Brenton Avdulla hopes Rubick will put him back on road to group 1 glory Brenton Avdulla on Koroibete last year. Sometimes things come a little easy in life and jockey Brenton Avdulla has realised how blessed he was to have rides on Ilovethiscity and Secret Admirer to start his career. "I was 19 and riding group 1 winners straight out of my apprenticeship," he said. It was easy and I probably didn't appreciate it. Avdulla rode the highs of racing for a year, winning the 2010 Flight Stakes and 2011 Epsom on Secret Admirer and adding the 2011 Randwick Guineas on Ilovethiscity, but three years on, his group 1 count still stands at three. "I hit a flat spot after those two and my work ethnic wasn't as good as it should have been," Avdulla said. I had my troubles as well, but you have to learn from those lessons. Those group 1s are hard to win and everyone is trying to find the horse that can take you there. That horse might be Rubick if the boom on the unraced juvenile is right. The Encosta De Lago colt makes his debut at Randwick on Saturday (race one) after smashing the clock when winning a barrier trial at Rosehill by 7⅓ lengths. "We can hope with him," Avdulla said. He is well bred, has the attitude and ability to be very good but he is still an unraced two-year-old. We don't know how he will react to race conditions but he has done everything right at home. Rubick is in the stable of Gerald Ryan, who knows he might have something special and did not hesitate to put Avdulla on him. However, it took the 23-year-old months to prove himself to the trainer. "Brenton is a hard worker and the sort of bloke you want on your team," Ryan said. If I say to be here at 4.30[am] for a gallop he is there at 4.15, ready to go. He is a good judge and knows what it takes to succeed, and is hungry. It is a long way from the times when Avdulla struggled to get rides in Sydney. Those memories make the hoop more dedicated. "I turned 23 the other day, so I'm not that old - but in this game you grow up quick," he said. It is opportunities like working at Gerald's that give you a chance to go to the next level. Most jockeys will tell you it only takes one horse and everyone is looking for that horse. I look at blokes who have taken their chances and think I could do that, but I know it is not easy. Rubick has been posted a $1.50 favourite for his debut and is already second favourite for the Blue Diamond behind Darley's impressive filly Earthquake. Avdulla said being chosen to ride the boom colt did not bring any extra pressure. I have been working hard for eight months to get on a horse like Rubick and I'm lucky he has come along. I just have to go out and do my job on him. Ryan hopes to provide more opportunities for Avdulla during the autumn. "It looks a strong team but nothing is guaranteed," he said.