Ruby Rocks made it two home cup wins in as many months at Tauherenikau on Sunday when taking out the Trust House Enhancing Our Community Masterton Cup over 2050m.
The daughter of Burgundy was victorious over the same track and distance on Waitangi Day in the Wairarapa Cup, and owner-breeder-trainer Roger Allen was confident of another bold showing on the Soft5 footing.
Ruby Rocks jumped well and was sent straight to the front by jockey Jonathan Riddell, where they were able to dictate terms. The Bill Thurlow-trained Field Of Gold pressed forward to challenge Ruby Rocks around the final turn, heading his rival with 200m to go; however, Ruby Rocks’ tenacity proved too strong, and she fought back to regain her lead and hold out race favourite Titled to win by a length.
Opaki-based Allen said he was pleased to get his mare’s name etched in another local Cup.
“She got the Wairarapa and Masterton Cup double, which was great. It was very pleasing to get that win,” he said.
“She was headed and then she just showed so much determination, she fought back. She is a gutsy mare and just doesn’t give up; she loves it.
“She likes that track too and she has finally got firm tracks. All last summer, it was wet, and we didn’t have any firm tracks, and now we have got them and she is thriving.”
Out of two-win Black Minnaloushe mare Rapidpower, Ruby Rocks has now won eight of her 43 career starts and more than $150000 in prizemoney, and Allen said attaining black-type is now the primary objective with his mare.
“I am thinking of stopping breeding and buying yearlings, so you don’t have as long to wait, so getting some black-type [with Ruby Rocks before she is offered for sale as a broodmare] is important,” Allen said.
“We are looking at going to the Manawatu Breeders’ [Group Three over 2100m] at Trentham [on Saturday week], where she will be against mares and fillies, and not big geldings.”
With winter fast approaching and Ruby Rocks liking for firm tracks, Allen said she may only have a couple of more starts before she heads to the spelling paddock, but he is keen to press on with his charge for as long as possible.
“She is just thriving at the moment; she is loving it,” he said.
“If we have still got firm tracks, then we will keep going, but as soon as it gets wet, she can go out for the winter.”
