‘Ruby’ digs deep for Gr 1 Trotters Oaks victory

Victorian reinsman Greg Sugars is predicting a bright future for rising star square gaiter Shes Ruby Roo (Creatine) after the filly’s dominant harness racing victory in the Group One Cattanachs Victoria Trotters Oaks at Melton (Oct 14).

A tricky barrier eight draw had plenty of form watchers worried about whether Shes Ruby Roo could emulate her victory of a week ago in the Need for Speed Princess Final, when she scored a half-head victory over the filly considered head and shoulders the best of her year as a two-year-old season, Rockinwithattitude.

But a superlative drive by Sugars, who is driving in career-best form, removed any risk from the equation.

As expected, Rockinwithattitude led comfortably from the gate, but Sugars extracted Shes Ruby Roo from the pegline within the first 500 metres, then slipped off three wide when Kiwi Shez Bella made an early race move.

Sugars then enjoyed the saloon passage in the 1-1 position on Shez Bella’s back, and was able to time his run to perfection to again reel in Rockinwithattitude in the run to the line.

Shes Ruby Roo scored by a half neck from Rockinwithattitude and Chris Svanosio finished strongly on Aldebaran Miley to grab third place.

ROO BEAUTY!!
What a win for Jess Tubbs and @grsugars with Shes Ruby Roo getting Rockinwithattitude on the line to win the @CatanachsJewel Victoria Trotters Oaks – a Group 1 triumph for @LarajayFarms and connections. pic.twitter.com/14YHUAEITS

— The Trots (@TheTrotsComAu) October 14, 2023

Formerly prepared by her part-owner and Kyabram trainer Peter Hall, Shes Ruby Roo joined the stable of Sugars’ partner Jess Tubbs in July months ago, and has gone to the next level at their Larajay Farm property.

For Tubbs and Sugars, Shes Ruby Roo has had six runs for three wins, with Sugars convinced her victory in the Oaks was her best so far.

He had been bullish during the week, believing Shes Ruby Roo was good enough to win, but needed luck at the right time.

“It gave me some hope that she reeled in Rockinwithattitude last week. She seems to be getting better every week since Jess and I have taken her over,” Sugars said.

“She is only a light-bodied horse, and with another break we think she can come back even better.”

Jess Tubbs agreed that the filly was showing great improvement.

“It was just terrific – her last two have been great.  In herself, she is maturing, learning more about racing and developing her ringcraft.  She is a lovely filly and racing in great heart at the minute,” she said.

The win followed up a super sprint lane performance by Sugars in the Make My Cullen mares race on Rakero Rebel to beat the red-hot favorite Ladies in Red.

Sugars said he was enjoying his current purple patch in the sulky.

“We’re going okay at the minute! When you are on a roll your confidence is up and you don’t second guess yourself as much – and often your first instinct is the right one,” he said.

Peter Hall and his co-owner Graham Lyon and a group of friends in the We Are Crackers syndicate have been enjoying a sensational run with Shes Ruby Roo – the first filly that Hall has had in his long years in the sport.

“Before Shes Ruby Roo I had never had a filly and always wanted one,” he said.

“We got her from Benstud, and of course that means her dam was bred to the right stallion and her background is from a really good family with group one winners right through,” Hall said.

“Our syndicate has had plenty of fun with gallopers over the years and now at last I’ve brought them across into harness racing – we’re having fun and that’s what it’s all about.

For complete race results, click here.

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink