Race Ruler transferred to Owen Purdon’s stable

Press, 5 April 1989, Page 42

Race Ruler transferred to Owen Purdon’s stable

By

JEFF SCOTT

Owen Purdon was left lamenting what might have been when Lord Lenny broke down in December, but dreams of a big Cup success have unexpectedly soared again after gaining the services of another top class but injury-prone pacer in Race Ruler. The former outstanding two and three-year-old pacer was transferred to Purdon’s Pukekohe stable four weeks ago after Race Ruler’s former trainer, Joe Goodyer, had a “disagreement” with the gelding’s owners, Alf Wallis and Len Giraud. “There was nothing wrong with the horse at the time and his legs looked real good. He was just about to resume work again,” said Goodyer yesterday. “I don’t like losing a good horse like him — he’d only had 35 starts for me for 21 wins and, five placings for $527,508 in stakes (plus the $150,000

Triple Crown bonus) — but that is the way it goes,” said Goodyer. After racing only twice at four years, Race Ruler made it back to the track again earlier this term for Goodyer, starting three times for a win back in the spring.

“He had two hard runs close together when he started off this season and was sore in both his bad leg and in a good leg. We decided we would get him right again before we continued,” said Goodyer. “He was looking good when we had the disagreement and he might stand up to it this time,” he said.

Race Ruler looked destined to become one of New Zealand’s greatest pacers after outstanding seasons at two and three years, being voted top of his age group in successive years in the Horse of the Year awards.

The Noodlum-Black Velvet gelding won eight of 16 starts as a juvenile including the Benson and Hedges Two-Year-Old Championship over That’s That and Bionic Chance, and the N.Z. Sapling Stakes at Ashburton in national record time.

Race Ruler was in devastating form as a three-year-old, winning 11 of his 12 starts in New Zealand and was unplaced in two starts in Australia. His three-year-old wins included the Lion Brown Rising Stars’ Final at Addington Raceway, the John Brandon Three-Year-Old Championship, John Brandon Flying Stakes, John Brandon N.Z. Derby and the John Andrew Ford Great Northern Derby.

Race Ruler became the first pacer to win the John Brandon Triple Crown bonus at Addington Raceway at the 1987 Easter meeting, while he set three

national age-group records in this campaign for 2000 m mobile (2:28), 2200 m mobile (2:44.6), and 2700 m mobile (3:25.2). Only his 2200 m mobile three-year-old record still stands. Race Ruler raced only twice at four years, for a win early in the season before a niggling succession of injuries resulted in an enforced layoff. His only win this term was recorded at Alexandra Park on November 12 in the $15,000 A.G.C. Finance Handicap. Race Ruler scored by a short neck from the subsequent Auckland Cup and Inter-Dominion Pacing Final placegetter, Kylie’s Hero, in a sound 3:28.4 for the 2700 m from a stand. Hopefully, next season as a six-year-old, Race Ruler will be able to continue a first-class career and again rise to the great heights he achieved in his two and three-year-old racing.