RACING RUATO OVERCOMES BAD RUN FOR CUP

Press, Volume C, Issue 29402, 3 January 1961, Page 5

RACING RUATO OVERCOMES BAD RUN FOR CUP

Wanganui Stayer Beats Ma Cherie In Style

The light-weight Ruato overcame difficulties presented by a cramped run on the inside to win the £ll,OOO Auckland Cup yesterday. This four-year-old from Wanganui was steered away from the inside about a furlong and a half from the post, and he wore down the game Ma Cherie close to home to win by a length.

Ruato was easily the best backed of the horses in the lower part of the handicap. He had a big following after a second to Joytime in the Queen Elizabeth Handicap earlier at the meeting; also a fourth on the opening day of. the Manawgtu Cup meeting.

Ruato is owned and was bred by Mr Donald J. Wilkie, a farmer from Whangaehu, about 10 miles from Wanganui. Mr Wilkie bred Ruato from the Broiefort mare Golden Sonnet which also left Sonnetary. a topflight handicap stayer a few years ago.

Mr Wilkie has been racing horses for about 14 years and it was 12 years before one of his horses won.

Nick Martin, who trains Ruato at Wanganui, is 78 years old and did not take out a trainer’s licence until two and a half years ago, but he is renowned in the Wanganui district for his ability as a horse-breaker. He has had several good horses through his hands, but the percentages were all against him training an Auckland Cup wipner in such a short career as a horse trainer. Total investments on the Cup were £293,351 15s, doubles betting accounting for £203.763 15s. Ruato carried £19.023 5s including £13.203 5s on the double. Ilumquh was the glamour horse of the race, but he faded from a contending position in the last furlong and finished sixth. £44000 On Ilumquh Ilumquh carried £44.283 15s including £32,601 5s on the double. Ilumquh was one of the first to get close to the leading line when they straightened, but it was clear a furlong out that Ma Cherie • rails), Ruato (two out from the rails) and Daysun on his left were going better. Ilumquh finished sixth, losing fifth to Yeman, the oldest horse an the field, in the last fevz strides. Second top weight of 9-2 at the end of two miles was just too much for Ilumquh, but his failure to reach the first four will make strange reading in Australia, where he won the Caulfield and Williamstown Cups and ran the unluckiest of thirds in the Melbourne Cup. “Took Hold Of Bit” Ilumquh’s rider, J. T. Anderson, said that the Sabaean gelding took hold of the bit about six furlongs from the finish and moved up by hilmself. "A furlong out.” Anderson said. "I thought the would outstav them, but his big weight, and all that extra ground, found him out.” But the Matamata apprentice, R. Fisher, had had his worries on Ruato. too. Fisher said that he •'did not have the best of runs.”

"I was checked several times on the inside, but rot a great run one out from the fence from the halfmile,*’ Fisher said. "I was confident of winning half-way down the straight.” At least two riders of beaten horses in the cup thought they were very unlucky not to have won. They were B. F. Andrew’s, who rode Yeman. and W. J. Mudford, who was on Red Eagle.

“I had to go four and five wide from about the six furlongs,’* said Andrews. “If I could have got in closer I think I would have won. He ran a great race for fifth.’*

Mudford was irate when he brought Red Eagle back. “Red Eagle had his head caught in the front of the starting gate,” said Mudford. "The starter didn’t see it. apparently, because he let the field go.” “Instead of being one of the leaders he was nearly last when the field settled down. I thought he might still win when he took the lead at the half-mile, but his big run left him without anything in reserve.” Red Eagle drifted right out of it In the straight, and beat only Red Robe home. , Other commets were:— G. F. Hughes (Lampada): Every chance. He ran a great race, but was beaten a furlong and a quarter from the finish. R. W. Taylor (Ma Cherie): I thought I had it won 100 yards after coming into the straight. I had a good run on the fence all the way and thought I would win just after turning for home. Cup Running Climbing began smartly from the inside and led the Cup field for a furlong or so. Wairere Boy, Red Robe. Lord Oman. Torrid and Woodlore were prominent racing for early positions and Gitano, Triple CoUnt and Beauzami were close behind.

When they had a mile and a quarter to go, Lord Oman, Red Eagle and Joytime (outside), were running almost together in front at a fairly slack pace. Gitano was close on their heels on the inside, followed by Woodlore. Torrid, Climbing, Ruato and Arid. Wizo kept her place right at the back. Lampada was only slightly ahead of her and was alongside Ilumquh, which moved out a trifle to make ground. At the seven furlongs. Red Robe and. Lord Oman drew clear again. At the six they were out by a length and a half from Gitano, and Red Eagle, which were ill the clear by a couple of lengths from Joytime. Woodlore, Volitime, and Torrid. The first 10 or 12 began to pack up further on. Lampada improved quickly, followed a little way behind by Dlumquh, and Ruato became crowded on the inside.

The first half-dozen sprinted in a close bunch from the half-mile. Red Eagle. Lord Oman, Red Robe. Lampada and Gitano were in close order and Joytime. Ilumquh (outside), Ruato, Daysun and Wairere Bov were the next five.

Red Robe gave ground and Red Eagle started the run home shading Pin Money. Ilumquh came right into the picture in the centre. Lampada was there and so were Joytime and Daysun. Ma Cherie kept close on the inside and Ruato was very handy.

Red Eagle did not last much longer. Coming to the last furlong Lampada and Daysun were battling hard for the upper hand. Ma Cherie found a run on the inside and Ruato chased her gamely. Davsun took Lampada’s measure and looked very likely within 150 yards of the finish. But in the next few strides he was being pressed very hard to keep on his finish. Ma Cherie and Ruato reached him quickly and after a sharp struggle Ruato won by a length. There was a head, between Ma Cherie and Daysun (third), and half a length Beauzami (fourth). A length and a half further back were Ilumquh and Yeman. There was a slightly longer gap to Volitime, Waipari. Pin Money. Wairere Boy, Bronx, Joytime. Ruthless Tax and Triple Count. The last two, pulling up. were Red Robe and Red Eagle. The cup was run in 3min 22 3-5 sec. Time was lost on the first mile but the last mile was run in Imin 40sec. the last six furlongs in Imin 14 l-ssec. and the last half mile in 47 3-ssec.