Flying debutant Ruby July had experts diving for the records after one of the most impressive maiden wins in decades on a lightning quick track at Cluden Park today.
The Tolga trained filly stopped the clock at an astonishing 55.72 secs for the 1000m in her seven length win in the Tennessee Boy Thee-Year-Old Maiden Hcp.
Ruby July’s time is one of the fastest runs over the 1000m in the past 20 years but quickest maiden win ever recorded.
Bred and raced by Atherton owner Michael Lee, the filly landed the first leg of a winning double for Tolga trainer Sharlee D’Avila.
“She’s very, very good. She has a great future,” D’Avila said.
“We’ll see how she comes through this but all going well she’ll head to the QTIS Jewel series and hopefully the final at the Gold Coast ($500,000). The future for good horses like her is in the south.
“I haven’t had a lot of good horses, but you just know when they’re going to be really good like her. She is such a forward moving filly.
“Michael gave her a prep down south where she had a couple of jump outs and she was pretty impressive, and then he brought her home to spell.
“I know Michael well and when I’d see her in the paddock I’d keep at him to train her.
“She won a jump out at Atherton a few weeks back by six lengths so she was ready to go today.”
Her jockey yesterday Frank Edwards rated the win “special”.
“That was a very special performance. She’s the best filly I’ve ridden since Cairns Version and I won six from six on her for Ralph Baker,” Edwards said.
“I was actually pretty lucky to get the ride. Sharlee rang me to ride the filly in a trial after the last at Atherton. I only had one race ride so it was a good thing I decided to stick around all day.“
Ruby July is half brother to the smart Platinum Tycoon being by Bel Esprit out of a mare Lee raced called Platinum Ruby.
Both D’Avila and Edwards finished the day with winning doubles.
D’Avila also won the TAB Live Sky Racing Hcp (1000m) with the speedy Institution.
Edwards shared the major prize in the Living Turf Hcp (1609m) when he rode Dordogne to a deadheat win with Jemadar for trainer Graham Hughes.
Justin Stanley also landed a winning double with superb rides on Brad in the Roy Chillemi Hcp (1200m) and the heavily backed The Grove in the Magnums Catering Hcp (1200m).
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