Rudy wants to be a millionaire

Tough gelding Rudy will take a major step towards one of owner-breeder Tom Clarke’s dreams if he wins the Group Two P J O’Shea Stakes at Doomben.

Rudy ran third in the Group One Doomben Cup at his most recent start and five of his eight wins have come at the track.

A win in Saturday’s O’Shea (2200m) would take Rudy’s prize money to $972,000 and a placing in the Brisbane Cup a week later would push him past the $1 million mark.

Clarke, a doctor at Chinchilla on Queensland’s Western Downs, races Rudy with his brothers Don and David.

Tom Clarke has bred horses for years but Rudy is by far the best performed.

“Rudy owes us nothing and has given us a lot of pleasure. But I would love for him to be remembered as a Queensland horse who won a million dollars,” Clarke said.

“Obviously everyone would like to breed a million dollar earner. But I would be just as happy for his trainer Helen Page.”

“She has done a marvellous job with Rudy and managed him throughout his career. She really is one of the greats of Australian racing.

“The switch to Doomben hasn’t hurt us, so here is hoping.”

A decision will be made whether Rudy tackles the Group Two Brisbane Cup after the O’Shea.