Court Ruler gives Wheeler another Queensland success
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Court Ruler and Larry Cassidy return to scale as winners in front of the large Queensland crowd (Noel Pascoe photo)
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Just as he did with the champion Rough Habit back in 1990, John Wheeler prepared Court Ruler to victory in the Group 1 BMW Queensland Derby Plate 2400m.
With a luckless Winter Carnival so far, Court Ruler (G3 Viking Ruler-Free Court NZ), guided by Queenslander Larry Cassidy, produced the win for the New Zealand trainer.
Rockdale (Damian Browne) made his way to the front as they passed the post for the first time. He continued to bowl along out in front but it all changed when they hit the home turn.
Larry’s Never Late (Nash Rawiller) who travelled in the boxseat got to the lead in the straight. Shocking (Michael Rodd) came challenging down the outside but it was Court Ruler who run up between the two to win by a long neck, leaving Shocking in second and Larry’s Never Late third.
Cassidy said the race didn’t run to his plan but he found a way to get through by tracking Mateo (Hugh Bowman).
“My intentions were to be fifth, six or seventh but they went so fast early down the straight I sort of got shuffled back and I struggled to keep up early,” said Cassidy.
“After we hit the winning post there was a big scuffle and after that I wanted to get him relaxed and get his breathing pattern in tune.
“When we got to the 1000m, I was looking to leaving my options open so I tacked on Hugh Bowman. Hugh pretty much made the run for me.
“I thought I was going to battle away and run third but he just outstayed them. He’s just too tough and too well trained.”
Wheeler was always confident in his charge and didn’t hesitate to tip him to anyone that would listen.
“He’s pleased me all the way through,” he said. “I had two lead up runs into the Derby. I thought he was pretty plum. I said we’ll win the Derby.
“I was pretty confident and he worked he worked super and I was really pretty happy from there on.
“He’s right up there with the staying horses. He’s certainly not the top one but he ran fourth in the Derby at home.
“He’s a pretty good horse. He’s just been a little bit slow in maturing.
“It’s good to win anywhere but it’s good to win at Eagle Farm in the Derby. It’s always good to win a big derby.”
Wheeler is unsure of his future plans for Court Ruler but he’s not keen to push the gelding too hard.
“It’s a hard call to take them over there (New Zealand) to fly them back over for Melbourne,” he said.
“I tried with Rough Habit and failed. It’s the only time he ever failed. It’s just too hard backing them up. You don’t give them a decent enough break.”
After recently moving to Queensland, Larry Cassidy was delighted to pick up a win in the sunshine state.
“To win one of our major races over the Carnival, it’s just put the icing on the cake,” he said.
QUEENSLAND Racing web news: Hollie Roberts – June 9
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