‘Ruby’ heading to stud, ‘Stunning’ departs for USA

When little Ruby Ridge (Majestic Son) joined the harness racing stable of Peter and Vaughan Blanchard, she did so as a one win mare with over 27 starts to her name.

Five seasons later she has banked over $130,000 and is the winner of 10 races and 22 placings.

To say the bonny wee mare turned a corner would be an understatement, with two G3 placings against her own sex a testament to her ability when she was on her game.

While the Blanchard barn are not entirely convinced Monday’s second placing at Cambridge will be her last chance to add to her now ten win CV, it could easily be the case.

This week Ruby Ridge heads off to stud to be served by the champion sire, Volstead (Cantab Hall), and depending on how she goes, we may well have seen the last of her on the track.

If it was her last hurrah, the eight-year-old daughter of Majestic Son has done her connections proud.

“We are not sure at this stage whether Monday’s assignment will be her last. Depending on how easily she gets in foal, we might tinker around with her and give her a shot to go out on a winning note.

“If it does end up being her final race, we are completely at peace with it. She owes us nothing and has become a family and stable favourite down at the barn. She is so lovely to do anything with and is great with the kids and an absolute pleasure to work with everyday.

“We purchased her as a one win mare and had seen her showing a lot of promise for the McGowan’s at the workouts and trials but it wasn’t always correlating on the track. She was a wee bit cantankerous as a younger mare, but really matured into an honest horse with a decent motor,” said Vaughan Blanchard.

“Not many trotting mares crack the six figure mark in earnings without winning a Group Race, nor win 10 races full stop. On her day she was competitive with a lot of the better ones, particularly against her own sex and we are really looking forward to the next chapter in her life as a broodmare,” he said.

While it is not 100% that we have seen the last of Ruby Ridge, Blanchard was able to confirm the definite departure of another stable star who is destined for North America with the inform Always B Stunning (Always B Miki) one of the first stateside exports from New Zealand in some time.

The seven win mare was successful in her most recent race day start coming at Cambridge last Friday where she paced a 1:57.2 mile rate over the 1700m journey. Six of her seven wins came at the sprint distances of 2200m or less, with her second victory yielding a 1:54.4 mile rate over the 1700m as a three-year-old filly.

“She’s been racing in great touch and should do a great job over in North America for her new connections. She has the high speed off the gate and in her races and should really suit that style of racing,” said Blanchard.

The five-year-old mare will join the Gretchen Athearn barn at Plainridge Park.

Another North Island pacer to be confirmed on the plane to North America is the Maurice McKendry trained, Miki Shan (Always B Miki).

The winner of eight departs as a last start winner also and leaves these shores having secured a deserved Group Race success when he upset a talented field in the G1 Franklin Cup in December last year.

Miki Shan will do his racing out of the Pennsylvania barn of Hunter Oaks.

by Brad Reid, for Harnesslink