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Virus slows Rubick's spring campaign

Star colt Rubick's spring campaign has been delayed, but trainer Gerald Ryan still has plenty of firepower for the early-season three-year-old races.

Among his team is Bachman, who is being set for an audacious first-up bid at Group 1 glory in next month's $1 million Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill.

A virus has put paid to Ryan's plans to run Rubick in Saturday's San Domenico Stakes (1100m), but he expects to probably still have two runners - Ygritte and Washington Heights.

Ryan produced a stellar line-up of juveniles during the 2013-14 season, capped by Peggy Jean's victory in the Group 1 Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m).

The winner of the Group 3 Schweppes, Bachman has not been seen since he was unplaced in the Champagne.

"The plan is to go first-up into the Golden Rose and all going well, Bachman will go to Melbourne for the Caulfield Guineas Prelude and then the Guineas," Ryan said.

"Washington Heights and Ygritte will both be nominated for the San Domenico.

"Ygritte could wait for the Silver Shadow a week later, but we will look at what nominates for Saturday.

"Washington Heights is a nice horse and his target will be the Spring Champion Stakes if he looks like he'll run the distance."

The Group 1 Spring Champion (2000m) is on October 11, the final day of the Sydney carnival.

Ryan said Peggy Jean was likely to resume in the Group 2 Furious Stakes (1400m) on September 6.

Blue Diamond Prelude winner Rubick is progressing well, with the Schillaci Stakes and Coolmore Stud Stakes in Melbourne his new targets.

Australian Associated Press