New Zealand trainer John Sargent has no regrets about bringing Red Ruler to Melbourne earlier than last year and says he is ready to make his mark in Saturday's Turnbull Stakes at Flemington.The five-year-old has been at Jim Mason's Caulfield stables for the past two months getting ready for the carnival with stablemate, Melbourne Cup hope Young Centaur.This time last year Red Ruler was runner-up to Princess Coup in the Kelt Capital Stakes (2040m) at Hastings before making the trip across the Ta

New Zealand trainer John Sargent has no regrets about bringing Red Ruler to Melbourne earlier than last year and says he is ready to make his mark in Saturday's Turnbull Stakes at Flemington.

The five-year-old has been at Jim Mason's Caulfield stables for the past two months getting ready for the carnival with stablemate, Melbourne Cup hope Young Centaur.

This time last year Red Ruler was runner-up to Princess Coup in the Kelt Capital Stakes (2040m) at Hastings before making the trip across the Tasman and running sixth to All The Good in the Caulfield Cup (2400m).

Two runs later he finished third to Zipping in the Sandown Classic (2400m) before returning home and being spelled.

"That's a call we made (to come earlier) and I'm very happy with at the moment," Matamata-based Sargent said.

"I'd like to see him get a win soon because it's been a while between drinks and you have to get their confidence (up)."

Red Ruler won four of his first five starts in New Zealand including the Group Two Champion Stakes (2100m) at Ellerslie in February last year but hasn't won since.

The gelding injured a hip when eighth to Tuesday Joy in the Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) at Randwick in March and had two six-week spells confined to a box to get it right.

"He's just starting to peak as he goes into his fourth run so let's hope it's on Saturday and he carries it on into the Caulfield Cup," Sargent said.

Red Ruler looks well placed under the set weights plus penalties conditions of the Turnbull with 54.5kg, 4.5kg less than he carried when fifth to Heart Of Dreams in the Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield last Saturday week, and is drawn to get a nice run from barrier three.

"We'll definitely go forward because there doesn't look to be a lot of speed, maybe Maldivian (will lead)," Sargent said.

"He (Red Ruler) will slot in the first half a dozen hopefully."

Red Ruler will be ridden by Dan Nikolic who has been on him in each of this three runs this campaign.

"He's finally hit his straps. His coat has just turned, his gallop on Tuesday at Flemington was very good with Light Vision and he's just taken a while to warm up with the winter and whatever, and he's at his peak age-wise," Sargent said.

"From now on we should see the real horse we saw run second in the (2008 AJC Australian) Derby, so he can be up with the best."

Master trainer Bart Cummings says there is little between reigning Melbourne Cup hero Viewed and AJC Australian Derby winner Roman Emperor going into the Turnbull.

"I think they'll both run quite well but I wouldn't like to separate them at this stage," he said.

"Roman Emperor has drawn a better gate (five) than Viewed (13) and Montjeus like the wet.

"They have forecast rain for Melbourne, that would be nice.

"I'm happy with the way Viewed is going.

"We're getting to the distances which are more appropriate to him, a mile and a quarter (2000m) is to his liking.

"He likes the wet too. He won the (2008) Brisbane Cup on that very heavy track."

The Cummings stable will also saddle up Joe Blow.

"He scraped in at the bottom of the field, he's got to get some miles in his legs," Cummings said.

"I don't think he's quite up to this class at this stage but in a handicap he'll be good over a mile and a half (2400m)."