“RUBI” GIVES RIVALS A SERVE FOR MINERVINI

Rubi's Serve with part-owners Chris & Shelley McLennan

MARK Minervini’s first-up success with Rubi’s Serve on the Kensington track today carried extra significance for the Newcastle trainer.

Not only was it his maiden victory on Royal Randwick’s inside track, but also a new season breakthrough.

And despite the fact Minervini’s first winner for nearly three months was a $26 outsider, he wasn’t surprised about the result.

Ridden by Lee Magorrian, Rubi’s Serve defeated Mamushka ($5) and $3.60 favorite Fleeting Spirit in the Benchmark 72 Handicap (1250m) for fillies and mares.

“She is a very nice mare,” Minervini said this evening. “I’ve always had a good opinion of her.

“I had two cracks at the Provincial-Midway Championships with her earlier this year.

“Rubi’s Serve ran fourth in a very strong 1400m heat at Newcastle on March 1 (the second and third placegetters Lord Of Biscay and Matcha Latte ran the quinella in reverse order in the $1m Final).

‘She was beaten only a length, and ran in another Qualifier at home 19 days later, but showed she had had enough and we gave her a good spell.”

Minervini gave the now five-year-old two trials last month (at Wyong on September 8 and Newcastle 16 days later) to prepare her for a resumption.

“Rubi’s Serve won the latter 900m trial (defeating Loch Eagle and The Escape), but apprentice Mollie Fitzgerald, who rode her that day, wasn’t available for the Kensington meeting,” he explained.

“Lee (Magorrian) rode her in the first trial and had ridden her in races and won on her, so I was happy to put him on even though she had 59kg joint topweight.

“Rubi’s Serve drew barrier two and always travelled like a winner.

“Whilst I was surprised she started at such big odds, that was probably because the stable has been out of form lately.

“A wet winter didn’t do us any favours, but the team is starting to pick up again.

“We had two placings (Mariko and Sara’s Rocket) at home yesterday, and Rubi’s Serve can definitely win again in town.”

Whilst Minervini has had success on the course proper, he had been missing from the Kensington winning list until today.

“We’ve had plenty of shies at the stumps (25 in fact) and had a few placings,” he said.

“It’s a track which can vary.

“They get to the outside when it’s wet, and come up the inside when it’s dry.”

. Leading Newcastle trainer Kris Lees has two of the 29 third acceptors remaining in Saturday week’s $5m Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m).

They are Changingoftheguard (55kg) and Adelaide River (54kg).

Newcastle Gold Cup runner-up and subsequent Group 1 The Metropolitan winner Royal Supremacy (52.5kg including a 1.5kg penalty) was also among the third acceptances.

Story John Curtis, October 8, 2025 - Pics Bradley Photos