MARK Minervini light heartedly says there was “method in his madness” in buying a yearling filly at the Magic Millions National sale in 2022.
The Newcastle trainer paid only $25,000 for the daughter of Rubick – and subsequent events have shown there was nothing mad about his purchase at all.
Racing as Rubi’s Serve, she has already earned just over $56,000 from only nine starts - which have yielded a win and five placings – and lines up at home on Boxing Day on the Beaumont track seeking to add to her prizemoney tally.
“Being by Rubick had a lot to do with my buying her because we already had Quick Tempo (who has won seven races and picked up $472,000) by the same sire,” Minervini explained today.
“I guess there was method in my madness buying her as she was a bit on the small side, but appeared powerful all the same.
“We had to give her time and didn’t race her as a two-year-old.
“Our patience is paying off now, and I’m sure she will continue to reward us.”
Rubi’s Serve third up surged home once jockey Ash Morgan got her away from the inside and into the clear, and she won a 1300m Provincial Maiden Plate on the main course on November 27.
It was her last run though which drew even further attention to her prospects on Thursday.
Rubi’s Serve had a great battle with Churchill’s Choice over the final 200m before going under narrowly in a Midway Class 1 Handicap (1400m) at home on December 7, and her lightly-raced conqueror made it three wins from as many starts with an authoritative victory at Royal Randwick last Saturday at her city debut.
“I thought we were home that day, but the form has worked out pretty well,” Minervini said.
“Rubi’s Serve had a little freshen up after than run, and is fit and well and ready to go on Thursday.”
Lee Magorrian rode the mare in her narrow defeat by Churchill’s Choice, and rides her again in the F&M Benchmark 64 Handicap (1350m).
Whereas Rubi’s Serve, who was bred by Magic Millions supremo Gerry Harvey (who retained a share in her) cost only $25,000, her main rival, fellow Newcastle mare Lights Of Paradise cost considerably more at $525,000 as a MM Gold Coast yearling the same year.
Meanwhile, Hawkesbury trainer Blake Ryan has confirmed he will have a runner in each of the first three races on the Beaumont program.
All are three-year-olds, each having raced only once.
Ryan’s representatives are Visualise (Super Maiden Plate, 1350m), Graeci (Maiden Plate, 1200m) and Heron (3YO Maiden Plate, 1200m).
Apprentice Braith Nock rides Visualise, Andrew Gibbons partners Graeci, and Jean Van Overmeire has the mount on Heron.
So You Think gelding Visualise also was an acceptor for a 1400m Maiden Handicap at Kembla Grange on Saturday, whilst the fillies Graeci and Heron were acceptors for both the 1200m Maiden Plate and 3YO Maiden Plate at the Beaumont meeting.
“Visualise drew worse than midfield at Kembla and meets a smaller field at Newcastle, and this race will assist him getting ready for a 1600m race in the coming weeks,” Ryan said.
“There isn’t a split hair in the two races the fillies accepted for, and when Graeci drew the inside in the Maiden Plate and Heron also drew well in the 3YO Maiden Plate, it made it easy to split them.”
Story John Curtis, December 24, 2024 - Pics Bradley Photos
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