Having conquered a Group One in Australia, powerhouse Queensland Derby winner Rubira will now be set to win a second one in New Zealand-and Nathan is confident it will come sooner rather than later.
And the later could also provide a bonus-Mark and Nathan have a yearling full brother to Rubina getting through his paces.
Having sped to the ultimate lead from an outside gate at Albion Park “Kasper” kept up a 3.11 clip for close to 2600 leaving his rivals struggling in his wake.
He is now headed for a week off before a trip home and a campaign aimed at the $100,000 Vero Flying Stakes at Addington early in October.
Rubira runs away with Queensland Derby (Creek Photo)
“He was full of himself this morning but while I have yet to discuss it with Dad I feel just a little break now will pay off later in the year. You don’t want to be asking them for the big efforts too often” Nathan said
He revealed that leading in Saturday night’s classic was an option rather than a plan.
“Adam asked me what I thought of getting somewhere near them early. I told him I was confident he could sit parked and maybe not win but still be hard to beat so he said he would probably look for the lead if it was there.
Adam was full of praise for the horse. He said he was holding him back to the field and he had plenty to give when he was asked.I regard him as a free-for-aller in the making and he hasn’t anywhere near reached his potential yet. He is one of those horses who can adapt to however the race is run, a big advantage.”
When the brakes came off Rubira produced a 54 last 800,home in 26.8 leaving little chance for his rivals including the favourite Hesitate who trailed the winner but could not match his closing splits.
Nathan himself is also having a few days off with partner Ashley and family on the Gold Coast. Setting a horse for a big race and having him right on the night and win gave him a deep sense of satisfaction.
“It’s what you are doing it all for and when it comes off it really gives you a buzz”
Rubira had won the Diamond Creek Classic, now a Group 1 as a two year old in Southland.
Nathan had won his first Group One as a trainer at Albion Park having restored Ohoka Punter to his best form to win the Blacks A Fake some years ago when training on his own in Melbourne. But Rubira has been developed from scratch as a $50,000 sales purchase and that is an added satisfaction.
Rubira has now won over $360,000 from just 16 starts.
“He’s been well looked after, not asked for too much too soon. He needed patient handling, had a few maturity issues. But he is all racehorse on the track and the patience is paying off for him and us now”
Rubira gave syndicates managed by Phil and Glenys Kennard and including Rubira’s breeder, Breckon Bloodstock,back to back Queensland Derby winners with Major Hot scoring last year with Adam Sanderson also in the bike. He had produced another ace drive then for David and Stacey White who had temporary charge of Rubira when,as Major Hot was the only member of the team left to race in Queensland, Nathan opted to return home to a busy stable.
Rubira’s dam, Delightful Kas, is a granddaughter of the American mare owned by Cavalla Bloodstock in Andress Blue Chip and her dam, Lady Cullen,a fast filly, was a half-sister to superstar Carabella. She also left Belle of Montana a 13 race winner and high class filly in her own right. Croon Bloodstock has also been associated with this branch of the family in recent times -and the Group One stamp from it was well and truly evident at Albion Park on Saturday.