Rubiton blitzes rivals

Press, 25 September 1987, Page 26

Rubiton blitzes rivals

NZPA-AAP Melbourne The brilliant South Australian galloper, Rubiton, looked every inch a champion when he scored a devastating victory in the weight-for-age sAustlso,ooo Underwood Stakes (2000 m at Caulfield yesterday. The Century four-year-old living up to the high praise lavished upon him by the jockey, Harry White, in scoring an easy win, his fifth in weight-for-age company and his second group one victory.

“If he was in the Caulfield Cup, how big a certainty would he be?” White asked after the race.

“He’s the best horse I’ve ridden.”

Surprisingly, White settled his mount right back in the field.

But Rubiton (13-8 equal favourite) raced beautifully about two lengths behind Military Plume (13-8), who was considered his main rival. Rubiton has won each of his four starts this preparation in weight-for-age company and has taken his record to eight dwins, a second and three thirds from 13 starts. He has won $Au5t539,330. Rubiton is raced by the brothers, David and Rod Baylis, who bought the horse as a yearling for sAust4s,ooo at the A.8.C.0.5. sales in Adelaide.

They sold a 25 per cent share to Trans Media Stud Syndicate, managed by the television personality,

Mike Willesee, and his wife, Carol. Barns said Rubiton would run in the sAustlso,ooo weight-for-age Caulfield Stakes (2000 m on October 10 before contesting the SAustl million weight-for-age W. S. Cox Plate (2040 m at Moonee Valley on October 24.

Last year, the champion New Zealand gelding, Bonecrusher, won the Underwood before taking the Caulfield Stakes and the Cox Plate.

Although beaten five and a quarter lengths into fourth place, Military Plume had some sort of an excuse.

He received interference when Rubiton swept past him on the home

turn and he may have lost momentum.

The Riverina galloper, Dazzling Duke (33-1), set the pace from the New Zealander, Field Dancer (20-1 into 9-1), Royal Heights (9-1) and Military Plume.

Fair Sir (20-1) and Rubiton followed while Drought (33-1) and Tidal Light (9-1) were at the rear.

White took off on Rubiton near the 600 m and accelerated so quickly that he hit the front on the home turn and dashed about four lengths clear on straightening.

Rubiton had a commanding lead and it was left to the West Australian four-year-old, Fair Sir, to run on and finish two and a half lengths away, with

Drought a further length behind third.

The Morphettville trainer, Pat Barns, was a relieved man after the race.

“I feel better now. I was feeling sick before,” he said.

"Hany wanted him to settle back in the field and it worked out well. I was feeling pretty good by the corner.” The Jim Gibbs-trained Kiwi pair, Tidal Light and Field Dancer, did not really fire and finished sixth and fifth respectively, but both should improve on yesterday’s efforts. Yesterday’s feature races resulted: UNDERWOOD STAKES sAustlso,ooo; weight-for-age; 2000 m. 13-8 RUBITON 57 H. White 1 20-1 FAIR SIR 57 M. Sestich 2 33-1 DROUGHT 57 Greg Hall 3 Others in finishing order: 13-8 Military Plume, 9 Field Dancer, 9 Tidal Light, 9 Royal Heights, 33 Dazzling Duke. 2>/ 2 len, len. Time: 2 minutes (course record). MARLBORO CUP sAustlso,ooo; 1400 m. 3-1 WESTERN PAGO 55.5 J. Scorse .... 1 9-1 COLD HEARTED 52 D. Gauci 2 6-1 ISOMER 52 Greg Hall 3 Others In finishing order: 14 Our Waverley Star, 10 Northern Copy, 9-2 Society Bay, 33 Captain Palice, 12 Caledonian Boy, 16 My Arctic Wolf, 40 Foxseal, 25 Baptize, 33 Our Avon’s Gold, 33 Lockley’s Tradition, 33 Bank Coin, 16 Eastern Classic, 50 Scott’s Lane, 33 Dandy Andy, 330 Korongah Miss. >/ 2 len, long nk. Time: 1:23.8.