31 Dec 2009
A dominant staying performance saw Red Ruler much too good in the running of the Group Two City of Auckland Cup (2400m) at Ellerslie on New Year's Day.
The $75,000 winning purse took Red Ruler's earnings beyond the $1 million barrier.
Trainer John Sargent purchased the five-year-old son of the Cambridge Stud stallion Viking Ruler at the 2006 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Premier Sale for $60,000 from the consignment of Trelawney Stud.
A remarkable statistic to emerge from the City of Auckland Cup result was the fact that it was Red Ruler's first win since taking out the ARC Championship Stakes-Gr.2 on the same track as a three-year-old in March of 2008.
In between times Red Ruler has recorded second placings in both the Australian Derby-Gr.1 (beaten Nom du Jeu) and Kelt Capital Stakes-Gr.1 (beaten Princess Coup).
A logical immediate target for Red Ruler is the $250,000 Century City 2010 Wellington Cup-Gr.2 (2400m) at TrenthamGardens at the end of the month.
Viking Ruler