Honor That certainly gives credence to that theory after her powerful finish to win the listed New Zealand Bloodstock Airfreight Stakes at Wingatui on Saturday.
Rudkin has been training publicly for the last four seasons, but he is gathering some handy youngsters around him.
His first winner actually came in 2000 with Trifox. He relinquished his licence after the 2003-04 season, but he got going again in 2008 when he moved south to set up a stable at Riccarton.
Dontpokethetiger showed some promise as a 2yr-old earlier this season, finishing third in the group 2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes at Trentham in December, but Saturday's win topped that result.‘‘It's my biggest thrill in racing,'' Rudkin said.
‘‘I got that 2yr-old group placed, but this is my biggest race, winning a listed race.''
Punters did not have a heap of confidence in Honor That, sending the filly out at a $22.90 price on the totalisator but - to be fair - neither did the trainer.‘‘I thought she would go all right, but not that good.''
Terry Moseley was a late bonus for Rudkin, as he was cleared to jump off Southland Guineas winner Replique - who looks set to be sold to Australia - to ride Honor That.
‘‘It was a beautiful ride and I thought she'd run second or third, to tell you the truth. Terry's on the top of his game at the moment.''
Honor That's finishing burst to win the Airfreight Stakes suggests she will handle the distance rise to the 1600m of the Insurance Stakes in mid-April and possibly the Warstep Stakes over 2000m a week later, but Rudkin admitted he was not really sure where to go next.
‘‘To tell you the truth, I wouldn't have a clue, because I didn't think she would go as good as that.''
Continuing a theme which began earlier in the day, Rudkin's $4000 purchase of Honor That as a 2-start maiden from the 2015 national weanling, broodmare and mixed bloodstock sale looks like a bargain in hindsight.
The girls were to the fore in the open 1200m as well - more specifically Red Dirt Girl.
The Mike McCann-trained mare continued her super season, adding yesterday's $30,000 feature to a win at Riccarton last month and the Pegasus Stakes in November.
McCann is just pleased Wingatui jockey Shankar Muniandy is reaping the benefits of Red Dirt Girl's ability, after he missed the Pegasus Stakes due to suspension.
‘‘I was devastated that day, but that's racing and that's how it goes,'' McCann said.
‘‘Without him, I don't think she'd be where she is. He's done a hell of a lot of work with her. She's given him some rough rides at times.''
McCann and Muniandy have been a training-riding combination for 10 years, and McCann admired Muniandy's open lines of communication when he was handed the suspension prior to New Zealand Cup week.
‘‘He was in straight away to give me time ... to get a rider,'' McCann said.
‘‘I don't think I could name a race he should have won which he didn't - he's all honesty. He tells it as it is when he comes in.''
