Ruud Not Too
Trish Dunell
A picture perfect ride and a never-say-die attitude saw the Stephen Marsh trained Ruud Not Too score a decisive victory in the inaugural running of the Dunstan Feeds Rising Stars Championship Final at Ellerslie.
The four-year-old Bernardini mare had to overcome an outside draw and a quality field to post her fourth career victory and second at Ellerslie in this campaign. Punters who were prepared to overlook the wide gate were well rewarded as rider Danielle Johnson hustled the mare forward in the early stages before securing a dream run on the outer.
Johnson had the mare challenging on the home corner as she sprinted hard to establish a winning break on a large chasing pack headed by eventual runner-up Dark and Stormy. Ruud Not Too was not to be denied as she clung to her advantage, eventually posting a winning margin of two and a half lengths in a smart 1.28.01 for the 1500 metre journey.
Marsh was a full of smiles following the dominant performance.
"That was a monster win wasn't it," he grinned.
"She drew wide, which has been the norm for my runners of late, but Danielle got her in a beautiful spot and she really let down when she asked her for the effort."
Marsh admitted he was a little perplexed with the mare's most recent run where she finished third after appearing to have every chance.
"I thought she could win last time but she raced like a tired horse that day," he said.
"I do think her fresh-up run took more out of her than we thought at the time so we gave her a little freshen up and she showed what she could do today."
Marsh will now assess the mare's powers of recovery before deciding on her immediate future. There are still some thoughts of a start in the Gr. 2 Rich Hill Mile on New Year's Day although more likely is a tilt at the Gr. 1 Harcourts Thorndon Mile at Trentham on the 28th of January.
Ruud Not Too races in the familiar colours of one of Albert Bosma's Go Racing syndicates with Bosma outlaying $220,000 for her during the Premier session of the 2014 National Yearling Sale. – NZ Racing Desk
The four-year-old Bernardini mare had to overcome an outside draw and a quality field to post her fourth career victory and second at Ellerslie in this campaign. Punters who were prepared to overlook the wide gate were well rewarded as rider Danielle Johnson hustled the mare forward in the early stages before securing a dream run on the outer.
Johnson had the mare challenging on the home corner as she sprinted hard to establish a winning break on a large chasing pack headed by eventual runner-up Dark and Stormy. Ruud Not Too was not to be denied as she clung to her advantage, eventually posting a winning margin of two and a half lengths in a smart 1.28.01 for the 1500 metre journey.
Marsh was a full of smiles following the dominant performance.
"That was a monster win wasn't it," he grinned.
"She drew wide, which has been the norm for my runners of late, but Danielle got her in a beautiful spot and she really let down when she asked her for the effort."
Marsh admitted he was a little perplexed with the mare's most recent run where she finished third after appearing to have every chance.
"I thought she could win last time but she raced like a tired horse that day," he said.
"I do think her fresh-up run took more out of her than we thought at the time so we gave her a little freshen up and she showed what she could do today."
Marsh will now assess the mare's powers of recovery before deciding on her immediate future. There are still some thoughts of a start in the Gr. 2 Rich Hill Mile on New Year's Day although more likely is a tilt at the Gr. 1 Harcourts Thorndon Mile at Trentham on the 28th of January.
Ruud Not Too races in the familiar colours of one of Albert Bosma's Go Racing syndicates with Bosma outlaying $220,000 for her during the Premier session of the 2014 National Yearling Sale. – NZ Racing Desk