Ruscello To Return At Moonee Valley
- Thursday, 30 July 2015 08:04
It has been a long road back to the races for the 2013 Lexus Stakes winner Ruscello.
Now in the care of Archie Alexander, the imported stayer is set to have his first start in more than 15 months at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
Ruscello underwent nasal surgery to correct a breathing problem which stemmed from a paddock accident in which the horse damaged the right side of his face around his nostril.
Ruscello winning the Lexus Stakes at Flemington in 2013
"Basically the nasal passage was being blocked because it wasn't functioning right so they had to do an operation on that and since then it's been good," Alexander said.
Alexander said the horse had been given a slow build-up towards a race return over 1600m in the Jeep Handicap, the gelding's first start for his new stable.
"We haven't rushed him but everything is going well," Alexander said.
The trainer said the import had trialled nicely in two unofficial hitouts and had been galloping well at home but conceded the test would come when he was put under race pressure on Saturday.
Ruscello, who sports the OTI Racing colours, came to Australia in the spring of 2013 under the care of English trainer Ed Walker.
He won the Lexus Stakes on Victoria Derby Day at Flemington before finishing second last in that year's Melbourne Cup on a quick back-up.
While that carnival was pivotal for Ruscello, it was the spring of last year that took on significance for Alexander.
He opened his training business at Ballarat in July 2014, had his first runner in September and a month later saddled up a Caulfield Cup runner when Renew was transferred to his stable by OTI Racing.
Renew went on to claim the Listed Sandown Cup two starts later.
Amorino gave the trainer his first Group winner during the autumn and Alexander has built his team from five horses to 35 in a year.
He is hoping to keep his momentum rolling into the new season.
"I had 14 winners this season so you'd hope to build from that and just keep building and having more winners," he said.
