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By Tony Megahey

Ron Stubbs, through a four-decade training career and city winners in three states, normally wouldn’t contemplate any race with so much against him on Saturday at Royal Randwick with TAB Highway favourite Rumours Abound.

The lightly raced mare has barrier 16, the extreme outside in a capacity field on a rain-affected surface (currently a Heavy 8).

However, Stubbs will likely make an exception through a long and productive association with champion James McDonald.

Albury-based trainer Ron Stubbs. Image by Bradley Photographers

“It’s some task, an inexperienced mare up in grade but at this stage were coming, relying on the skill and experience of James from out there,” offered Stubbs from Albury trackwork.

Rumours Abound is the $5 TAB favourite and has 55kg in the class 2, 1100m.

And if Randwick remains in that Heavy 8 range it’s further adversity. Normally Stubbs would wait for another day.

“There were limited options, she’d been winning so well, and mares generally hold their form.”

Also, Stubbs had booked McDonald, a regular ally in rare trips to Sydney after Rumours Abound had won her second race at Corowa three weeks ago. That and a Wagga Wagga maiden win totalled four lengths leading throughout.

“She’s been showing natural speed and running time but out there Saturday, we’ll have to look for a sit, likely she’ll be just as effective.

“She’s bred to run a mile or more, lovely tall athletic mare.”

Rumours Abound with just three starts is by Press Statement from Tiffany’s (NZ) a High Chaparral mare.

In a strong TAB Highway episode only the influence of McDonald has Rumours Abound heading the markets at $5 in a wide betting race off a modest Wagga Wagga maiden win and a Corowa Class I, both at 1000m.

Likely the strongest move by post time will be for Derry Grove ($7) from the prolific Highway winning stables of Matt Dunn.

With over 30 series wins Dunn has been successful of late with runners off Eagle Farm and Doomben form from his Murwillumbah base.

They have been ideally placed and weighted and Derry Grove has 59.5kg for Nash Rawiller and barrier 9.

In February Derry Grove was third at Eagle Farm and a close fourth at Doomben and resumed to win at Ipswich off a Beaudesert trial win.

View final fields with full form & race replays for Royal Randwick