Exciting filly Ruby July will again be the star attraction at Cluden Park on Friday, but a southern tilt may be just around the corner.
Ruby July is a hot favourite for the Magic Millions QTIS 3yo Hcp (1000m) in which she’ll clash with the classy and more experienced Which Lily and Cracker Essgee.
By Bel Esprit out of grand producing mare Platinum Ruby, Ruby July caused a sensation this month recording one of the fastest 1000m maidens ever clocked at Cluden.
The performance generated enormous interest in the filly including an offer from Singapore.
But her Atherton breeder, owner and trainer Michael Lee is taking it all in his stride.
Lee wants to see the filly perform just as well against stronger class, and is confident she can take the next step and win again on Friday.
“She was very impressive - I haven’t seen a horse win a maiden in the far north as convincingly,” Lee said.
“Sharlee (D’Avila) had her for the first start and did a very good job – the filly looked amazing.
“You can’t be too confident in racing but if she runs to form I think she’ll beat them at those weights.
“I still have the dam (Platinum Ruby) but my intention is to keep this filly as a broodmare. I suppose if the right offer came along I’d have to think about it.”
Lee reluctantly scratched Ruby July from her main target the Jewel Qtis qualifier (21250m) in Cairns on a heavy track on Tuesday.
The race was a key target and offered a place in next month’s $500,000 final at the Gold Coast.
“It was 50-50. I didn’t want to risk her on the heavy track and she’d just got over a slight setback with a stone bruise,” Lee said.
“Now that the Jewel is pretty much out, my plan is to give her this run and maybe one more and if she really shows she can be competitive in Brisbane, spell her and then look at sending her down.
“I think she could better than her brother (open sprinter Platinum Tycoon) and she’ll be an even better horse in six months time.
“I have a couple of horses in work with Gerald Ryan in Sydney and after she won he called me the next day and asked me if I’d send her down.
“There’s plenty of choices up here and down south.”
Ruby July was devastating in her first start but will face a tougher test against classy filly Which Lily and the greatly improved Cracker Essgee.
Which Lilly, trained by Ben Williams, has an outstanding record winning four of her eight starts, and is a three time winner over 1000m at Cluden.
Cracker Essgee is resuming and showed he was an emerging Guineas prospect with two classy wins in Mackay for his Wulguru trainer Michael McLellan.
Both Which Lily (59kg) and Cracker Essgee (56.5kg) will have to concede weight to Ruby July in what promises to be the race of the day.
Pictured: Frank Edwards returns to scale on Ruby July after her sizzling debut win earlier this month. Photo courtesy of Mike Mills Photography.
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