Rubira shows class in Oamaru feature

The Mark and Nathan Purdon trained Rubira (Always B Miki) proved that racing experience matched with ability counts for a lot in juvenile harness racing.

In today’s $25,000 Diamond Creek Farm Oamaru Juvenile Stakes the two year old gelding was having his sixth start (more than most of his rivals) and he already had three wins on the board.

Tact Tiva and driver Jonny Cox went to the top early with Blair Orange deciding to stay out of the early rush with Rubira from their wide draw. With just over a lap to run Orange got a drag into the race on the back of stablemate Demon Blue and sat parked for the last lap.

“That’s why we have him (Orange) on. He doesn’t often make a mistake,” Nathan said.

Turning in, Tact Tiva and Rubira were the two to catch, but it was the more experienced Rubira that came out on top, winning by one and a quarter lengths from Tact Tiva, with Premier half a length back in third.

RUBIRA REPLAY

“Really happy because this was his first run for quite a while and he had to be good to win. He pulled out all his class.”

The winning time of 2-25.7 was just outside the race record of 2-25.6 held by 2022 winner Watermelon Sugar.

Rubira is owned by Glenys and Phil Kennard, Breckon Racing Syndicate, Gary and Kerryn Woodham and Richard and Sheena Coles. The Kennards, Woodhams and Breckon Racing Syndicate had shares in last year’s winner Major Hot.

The winning stake of $13,750 widens Rubira’s position as top of the leaderboard for November’s G1 $100,000 Ace of Spades at Addington.

“He’s a funny horse and has still got a streak in him where he rears up and spins round in the cart. He’s got a real baby mindset. I don’t know if he’ll ever come out of it now. He’s not one that overly impresses you at home. His training is good, but it never really wows you. The last time I drove him at the trials which was his second trial, I was really impressed with him. I think he’s stepped up a little bit. We’ve yet to see the Dunn horses (Got The Chocolates and Malakai). It’ll be interesting to see when they meet again. At the moment they still look like the two horses to beat.”

Purdon said Rubira will likely run in a heat of the Sires Stakes Series in two weeks time.

“After that we’ll plot a path going into the Sires Stake Final (12^th November Addington).”

Purdon Racing had two other runners in the race. Five Crowns finished fifth and Demon Blue ran seventh.

“I was really happy with Five Crowns. He was part of a really strong first 600 metres then he was parked for a while. By the time he got cover he was shuffled back to last. I think he found the line pretty good. I still think he is up to that class but he just had bad luck on the day. The other guy (Demon Blue) will improve with the run. He was a touch under par with what I thought he would have gone.”

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink