Ruggari gets the party started with youngster

A spur of the moment decision to text a good harness racing mate in New Zealand could be the catalyst for some exciting times ahead for NSW trainer Adam Ruggari.

Ruggari, who is based near Newcastle, was looking for a horse for a new owner to his stable but had hit some dead ends before landing impressive youngster Party Central (Captaintreacherous).

“We were looking to buy a two-year-old and had put in a few offers, but each time we missed out,” Ruggari said.

“It was then I decided to send Nathan Purdon a message. I’d bought a few off him when he was based in Melbourne and we’d done quite well with them,” he said.

Purdon suggested two-year-old gelding Party Central which had been performing consistently for their stable at Addington.

“When I looked him up, I couldn’t believe how well-bred he was. His dam Partyon (Bettors Delight) had a heap of ability and won Group Ones and other features,” Ruggari said.

Partyon was a brilliant race mare recording wins at the top level on both sides of the Tasman.

Ruggari said he had Party Central for six or seven weeks before taking him to the races.

“After he arrived, we copped a hot spell of weather. There were a few 40-degree days, and he was sweating in the shade. He took a bit to acclimatize,” he said.

Ruggari, who has had Gr 1 and Listed success, produced Party Central at the trials at Menangle on November 13 for a narrow win.

“Our race driver Jack Callaghan was over in NZ, so Luke McCarthy drove him for us trials and they ran 1.56-4 with a last quarter of 27 seconds,” he said.

Nine days later Party Central was sent out race favorite at Newcastle and duly won, recording a 1:53:9 mile rate in the Insight Building Services Pace over 1609m.

Ruggari, based at Sawyers Gully, 25 minutes from Newcastle, said he was pleased to have been able to secure a horse with Party Central’s ability for well-known owner Paul Borg.

“Paul’s enjoyed a lot of success over the years with horses like The Black Prince who won both the Newcastle and Len Smith Miles and competed in a couple of Miracle Miles,” Ruggari said.

“He’s such a passionate owner.  Party Central is the first he’s had with me, but I reckon he could easily be the best horse I’ve had, and he’s only had seven starts,” he said.

“We decided after the win to put him straight out until the end of December and then aim at the NSW Derby in March next year.

“He is a big gangly type, who still has a lot of growing to do.”

Ruggari has trained 173 winners. The past three seasons have been his most consistent with 35 wins in 2022; 28 in 2023 and so far, this season he’s had 26 wins and 38 placings.

For the record, Partyon retired with 17 wins and six placings from 31 starts for stakes of $638,261, winning Gr 1s including the $150,000 2yo Fillies Diamond at Waikato; $118,000 Oaks at Auckland and the $102,000 Queen Of Hearts, also at Auckland.

Campaigning across the Tasman, Partyon took out Gr 1s in the $280,000 Breeders Crown 2yo Fillies at Melton and the $120,000 NSW Oaks at Menangle (Mark Purdon); and Gr 3s in the Raith Memorial at Menangle (Mark Purdon) and the Allied Express Jodies Babe at Melton (Greg Sugars).

Natalie Rasmussen was victorious with the mare in the HBNSW Pink Diamond at Menangle, the Provincial Oaks (Listed) at Albion Park and finished runner-up in the Alabar Ladyship Cup at Melton. Luke McCarthy and Nathan Jack also had success with Partyon, who finished with a best mile rate of 1.51-3.

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink