Burgundy Mare Wins Wairarapa Cup

Media Release - Tuesday February 6

Local Opaki mare Ruby Rocks put her best foot forward as she dominated the closing stages when taking out the TAB Bonus Back Wairarapa Cup (2050m) at Tauherenikau on Tuesday.

Ruby Rocks winning the Wairarapa Cup (2050m) at Tauherenikau on Tuesday.  Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North)

To the cheers of the large crowd on hand, the seven-year-old daughter of Burgundy raced away to win by two lengths as she recorded the biggest win of her 40-start career.

Rider Sam Weatherley was content to sit well back in the early running as tearaway pacemaker Love For All set up a torrid speed out in front.

Weatherley and the rest of the field began to get urgent at the 600m and started chasing down the leader with Ruby Rocks swooping to the front around the home bend.

Advertisement

Weatherley kept her up to the mark as she maintained a strong gallop to defeat race favourite Achieve and Lincoln Star who both battled on bravely in the run home.

Trainer Roger Allen was delighted the mare he co-bred with wife Ann had bounced back from a pair of midfield efforts at Trentham where she hadn’t received a lot of luck in the running.

“It was a very tough win and great to get her back on a firm track,” Allen said.

“She doesn’t like it shifty and her last two starts at Trentham really didn’t suit the way the track was there.

“It was also a perfect ride by Sam as he got her settled and put her in the race like we had asked him.

“She seems to be thriving now at a middle distance, so I think there is a rating 75 2200m at Otaki in a couple of weeks which is where she is likely to go next.”

Allen was looking forward to heading home with the mare and enjoying a cold beer and a dip in the pool after battling the stifling heat on-course.

“It’s stinking hot here today so it will be good to get home, feed up then settle in for a beer and a swim,” he said.

“We’ve got a few mates coming around and some who are in her ownership, so it will make for a good night.

“It’s a pretty big group of owners in her including plenty of locals and some friends of my daughter from up Waiuku way so I’m sure they would all have got a kick out of the result today.”

Ruby Rocks is out of the Black Minnaloushe mare Rapidpower and has an extended family that includes Australian stakes performers Voli Dream and Shankhill Lass.

She has now won seven of her 40 starts and more than $132,000 for her owners, the Bindy One Syndicate. - LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Arkansaw Kid Brother Sells for $520,000
A well-related son of Harry Angel provided a late highlight in the final hour of the 2024 NZB Ready to Run Sale at Karaka on Thursday when he was knocked down to a $520,000 bid from bloodstock agent Morgan Carter.
Vale, Danny Champion
The thoroughbred racing industry is in mourning following the passing of respected horseman Danny Champion.
Ka Ying Rising connection draws Hayes team to Shamexpress at Karaka
With one of the world’s most exciting sprinters flying the flag for David Hayes in Hong Kong, it has been no surprise to see the trainer’s sons zeroing in on progeny of Windsor Park Stud stallion Shamexpress during the Ready to Run Sale at Karaka this week.
Blockbuster Sale as NZB Ready to Run Records Tumble
Expectations were exceeded at Karaka with tremendous results witnessed across two days of selling at NZB’S 2024 Ready to Run Sale, confirming the demand for proven racetrack results and quality New Zealand-prepared horses.
Castelvecchio Out for Remainder of Season
Aeliana’s late charge into second place in the $1.5million Group I MRC Thousand Guineas last Saturday stamped her as the filly to follow out of the race, but it wasn’t quite enough to put her sire Castelvecchio to the top of the second season sires list and he is now out of service at Arrowfield following surgery last week.
Million-dollar Hour for Leung at NZB Ready To Run
Hong Kong bloodstock agent Willie Leung had a big hour at Karaka early on Thursday afternoon, spending more than $1 million to secure two well-credentialled colts at the NZB Ready to Run Sale.
Churchill Colt Pulls Off Stunning Pinhooking Result at NZB Ready To Run
Chad Ormsby has enjoyed plenty of racetrack success this year with pinhooks that he has been unable to sell at the Ready to Run Sale, but the multi-talented horseman had a very different outcome with the standout member of his 2024 Riverrock Farm draft at Karaka on Thursday.
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Castelvecchio has gone from nowhere to somewhere during the course of this spring with three stakes-winners putting his name in lights and he had a promising three year-old colt salute at Hawkesbury on Thursday that has now won two of three starts.
Sires With Winners - Thursday November 21
Here is the full list of 32 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
City of Troy Crowned 2024 Cartier European Horse of the Year
Outstanding Justify colt City of Troy was crowned Horse of the Year at the 2024 Cartier awards on Wednesday night in London at a star studded ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel.