Stablemates Flamberge, Prezado in Rubiton

Co-trainer Simon Zahra is looking forward to veteran Flamberge and Prezado in the Rubiton Stakes.

Training partners Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra will saddle the oldest runner in the Group Two Rubiton Stakes and one of the youngest.

Eight-year-old Group One winner Flamberge will represent the stable in Saturday’s feature sprint at Caulfield along with Prezado, one of three three-year-olds.

Under the set weights and penalties, Flamberge gets into the race with 56kg while Prezado has 53kg.

“Flamberge won’t know himself with that weight while Prezado is flying,” Zahra said.

“He looks like he might go to another level, time will tell, but watching his trackwork, he looks like he’s improved a lot.

“He’s not an easy horse to place now.

“He’s a three-year-old with a rating of 78 so we’ll take on the older horses, see what he can do and then make a plan from there.”

Formerly trained by Peter Moody to win three Group One races, Flamberge had a brief stint with Ellerton and Zahra before being sent to Darren Weir.

He is now back at Flemington with Ellerton and Zahra trying to win his first race since the 2016 William Reid Stakes.

The partnership also has talented filly Booker ready to begin her autumn campaign in Saturday’s Group Three Kevin Hayes Stakes (1200m) after some early thoughts of the Rubiton.

The winner of the Prelude, Booker is having her first start since her midfield finish in the Group One Thousand Guineas.

“She’s in great order and has probably improved a fair bit from the spring,” Zahra said.

“We were considering running her in the Rubiton but we thought we’d keep her to her own age, potter around and see where we get to.

“She could be Sydney-bound later, but we’re pretty happy with where she’s at going forward.”

Booker will be joined by Smart Coupe in Saturday’s race coming off a first-up second at Caulfield on January 27.