Ruby Roe beats hot pot

The Nathan Williamson trained, and driven filly Ruby Roe (Captaintreacherous) beat the royally bred favourite All You Need Is Me (Captaintreacherous) in the second heat of the Macca Lodge/Nevele R Southern Oaks Series at the Wairio harness racing meeting today.

First Light made all the pace with All You Need Is Me parked for a portion of the 1609 metre journey. After sitting back with Ruby Roe, Williamson got a nice cart into the race when Raknruin improved at the 400.

All You Need Is Me got to First Light with 50 metres to run but Ruby Roe came with a late charge to get the decision by a nose with a game First Light a length and a quarter back in third.

“It developed into a real sprint home, and she managed to sprint up really well. She’s a classy horse and she really knuckled down when I asked her to today,” Williamson said.

Another heat of the series will be next on the card for the talented filly, but she could also be seen in the Nevele R Fillies Series and perhaps the New Zealand Oaks at the end of the season.

“The talent is there but it just depends on how her brain develops.”

The run was a marked improvement on the three year old’s last run at Ascot Park in December.

“It’s funny because in town (Ascot Park) she just loses concentration. We have made some gear changes to help. She wore two boring poles today and a shadow roll.”

Ruby Roe is owned by John and Katrina Price of Winton who took a break from Yearling Sales preparation to be on course. The first day of the SBSR Yearling Sales Tour is tomorrow.

Ruby Roe is out of Arden Caviar and the Price’s sold a Bettor’s Delight colt out of the mare at last year’s sale for $70,000.

Named Beluga he was bought by Alan and Liz Sloan and trainer Craig Ferguson has a good opinion of the youngster.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink