Ruud Not Too reigns royally
Ruud Not Too showed her own equine majesty winning the Royal Descent Stakes at Ellerslie on Saturday decisively.
Says Racing Manager Albert Bosma, “It’s great to see her back in top form. She looks superb at the moment and it was an emphatic win.”
Regular rider Danielle Johnson was confident after her close second placing the previous week. “It was a great run. She did a bit of work last week and was only run down late. There was only a bob of a head in it and we knew she would improve for the run.
Her next target is the Group 2 Japan New Zealand Trophy which Go Racing has history with, winning it back in 2004 with founding horse Silky Red Boxer.
“Unfortunately, this year the race has to be transferred from Tauranga due to the condition of the track. She’s a mare that definitely goes better right handed so we will just have to see where they hold it but it is the next logical step for her – Group 2, and over her best distance of a mile.
Bosma has been impressed with Ruud Not Too’s times which have been right up there. Last week in the Royal Descent Stakes her time was 1.34.23 and previously at Ellerslie she has run 1.34.01.
Her campaign climaxes with the Group 1 Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes in Te Aroha on the 7th of April – a weight for age fillies and mares miles worth $200,000.
Bosmas thoughts would then turn across the ditch where he and trainer Stephen Marsh are considering a Brisbane campaign for her. “Doomben will suit her pattern of racing and there is good money to be made without the top level stress of racing in Sydney or Melbourne.” The tracks are likely to be firm too, which is a key for her.