Rosehill trainer David Payne will target suitable staying races in the coming months for his talented three year-old Rutherglen.

The son of Yarradale Stud stallion Musket was an all-the-way winner of the Clubs NSW Hcp (1400m) last time out at Kembla Grange.  Allowed to bowl along in front by 4kg stable apprentice Blaike Mac Dougall, he refused to buckle for a half-victory over One More (Bernardini).

Rutherglen (3g Musket – Zirascible by Zabeel) had broken his maiden as a February 2YO at Newcastle and was sent south for the G2 VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes.  He was in the firing line at the furlong before finishing five lengths from the winner Twilight Royale at Flemington.

Rutherglen resumed as a spring three year-old but disappointed when placed twice in four starts before going out again.

Back in work as a gelding after a 25 week spell, he won easily enough at Kembla for connections to eye better races on the radar.  “He’s had form around some handy horses,” Payne said.  “It would be no surprise to see him step up to 2000 metres the further he goes into this campaign.”

Musket (Redoute’s Choice) is a three-quarter brother to Melbourne Cup legend Makybe Diva and his full-sister La Amistad looked another black-type horse for the family when a runaway winner at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.

Musket won the Group 2 Shannon Stakes at Rosehill and he has sired 12 first crop winners so far this season.

There’s another in the pipeline from his second crop following Mustalk’s impressive three-length trial win at Belmont on Monday.  Trainers Lou and Dion Luciani expect him to debut in the coming weeks.

Mustalk is a graduate of the 2013 Yarradale Stud Sale and his sire has another four fillies and two colts catalogued for the 2014 Gidgegannup auction on Sunday week, May 18.

Musket starts the Yarradale Sale with Lot 1, a filly from Caulfield Group 3 winner La Sirenuse.  The mare is a half-sister to the dam of veteran sprinter Grand Nirvana who is warming up for another winter campaign at Belmont.

Another highlight is Lot 24, a Musket half-sister to G3 Sir Ernest Lee-Steere Stakes winner Petrol Power.  The Jim Taylor trained gelding added a fifth victory in 12 starts at Ascot on March 29.

Musket stood for an $8,800 (inc gst) service fee at Yarradale Stud last year.