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Group One Double For Inglis Graduates |
11/03/2002 |
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First class stayer Universal Prince and rising star Rubitano took out the STC Ranvet Stakes and time honoured VRC Newmarket Handicap at the weekend, to bring up a two state Group One double for Inglis Graduates.
Universal Hits Back
Last year's AJC Derby hero UNIVERSAL PRINCE (1999 Easter $80,000) returned to the winner's circle in a blaze of glory at Rosehill on Saturday, winning the STC Ranvet Stakes Gr 1 from gallant runner-up DRESS CIRCLE (1998 Easter $100,000).
The Bede Murray trained star has now won four Group One events and prizemoney of $2.5 million, an impressive sum that could have been considerably more, if not for that infamous spring. But the past is the past and in two weeks time he will line up in the $1million BMW and all going well, will aim towards Hong Kong in April, for the Queen Elizabeth II Cup, won last year by German star Silvano, from the mighty Jim and Tonic.
Lightly raced five year old, Dress Circle, proved his last start fourth in the Chipping Norton was no fluke, running a bold race to lead all the way, before fighting off all challengers bar the winner. Gai Waterhouse's decision to spell the gelding after he won the Metropolitan in the spring is paying dividends now, with Dress Circle clearly showing all the attributes of a true Group One horse and possible Cups candidate for next spring.
Courage Wins Newmarket for Rubitano
Very few gallopers are capable of going from a maiden win to Group One success in the space of six months, but the Brian Mayfield-Smith trained RUBITANO has achieved just that. A magnificent type of horse, very much in the mould of his sire Rubiton, he was selected and purchased by Mayfield-Smith at the 1999 Premier Yearling Sale for $95,000.
Rubitano showed amazing courage to lead all the way on the flat side and then hold on for a narrow win from a tenacious pack of pursuers, with the first ten runners going over the line within a half length of each other.
An elated Brian Mayfield-Smith was understandably thrilled.
"A couple of months ago after he (Rubitano) won at the provincials, I made the statement that "this was the best horse I had trained since coming back from Africa". At least I don't look like too big of a mug now!" he joked.
"He's such an impressive horse, physically and mentally, if he stays sound, God know's what he can do."
Rubitano's sire, Rubiton, began his career as a specialist sprinter, before making the quantum leap to weight-for-age racing that led him to victory in the 1987 MVRC W.S. Cox Plate. His sister Rubitoff was good enough to win in Listed company over 1600 metres, and his grand-dam Pleasanton stayed well enough to run second to Light Fingers in the 1965 AJC Oaks. It will be most interesting to see what the future holds for
Rubitano.
William Inglis and Son Ltd
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