The Return Of Kiwi Stallion Depth - Viking Ruler

The stud career of Cambridge Stud's Group One-winning Danehill horse, Viking Ruler, took a giant leap forward during the Queensland Winter Racing Carnival when Court Ruler landed the Queensland Derby-Gr.1 for trainer John Wheeler.

It wasn't unexpected, by any means, with Court Ruler having beaten the older horses in the Trentham Stakes-Gr.3 in January and placing an encouraging fourth-equal in the Telecom Derby-Gr.1 at the start of March.

Court Ruler is a member of Viking Ruler's second Southern Hemisphere crop.  From his initial crop came Red Ruler, the John Sargent-trained stayer who romped home in the ARC Champion Stakes-Gr.2 at Ellerslie before travelling to

Sydney to record a splendid second to Nom du Jeu in the Australian Derby-Gr.1.

This season Red Ruler added another Group One placing to his CV when chasing Horse of the Year contender, Princess Coup, home in the Kelt Capital Stakes-Gr.1 at

Hastings.

And while both Court Ruler and Red Ruler have been flying the flag in style for their sire, possibly an even brighter hope for Viking Ruler is Kroner, the Bart Cummings-trained four-year-old who won four races this season, two of which were Listed events at Royal Randwick.  Kroner's season also included a second placing in the Listed Takeover Target Stakes at Gosford.

Another super-consistent performer for Viking Ruler has been Powerful Ruler, a three-year-old trained in

Singapore by Brian Dean.  Since the start of the Southern Hemisphere season (01 August 2008), Powerful Ruler has had 11 starts for 3 wins, no fewer than 6 seconds and a third.  Six of his placings have been in races with an international ranking of Listed.

Viking Ruler has had success in all four of New Zealand's key South East Asian trading nations - Singapore (5 winners from 10 starters), Malaysia (2 from 3), Hong Kong (3 from 6) and Macau (1 from 1).

In the Northern Hemisphere, Viking Ruler has had 6 winners in
Ireland, 5 in
Italy and 3 in

Great Britain.  As recently as last week the sire was represented by a winner at

Windsor.  Romany Princess, a four-year-old mare by Viking Ruler, has now won 3 races and been placed on 6 occasions - including a Listed Race third placing as a two-year-old at Goodwood.

By Danehill from the dual Group One-winning mare, Tristalove (by Sir Tristram), Viking Ruler is a brother to Kempinsky (Gr.2 winner) and Diamond Like (LR winner), plus a half-brother to Lovetrista (Gr.2 winner this season).  Viking Ruler's dam is a three-quarter sister to Don Eduardo, the Haunui Farm stallion who has had an excellent season with Divine Rebel in

Australia and All in Black in NZ.

Viking Ruler fact sheet...

• Group One winner this season - Court Ruler (Queensland Derby)


• Group One-placed horse this season - Red Ruler (2
  ^nd, Kelt Capital Stakes)


• Dual Listed Race winner this season - Kroner (AJC Hall Mark S. & AJC June S.)


• Ten stakes-performers in all


• Sire of winners in 10 countries


• Oldest progeny 4YOs

Statistics courtesy of
www.arion.co.nz

Article courtesy of New Zealand Thoroughbred Marketing