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Home / Sport / Racing

Racing: Masterly drive sees Sunny Ruby shine

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30 May, 2015 05:00 PM2 mins to read

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Photo / Thinkstock

Photo / Thinkstock

Gavin Smith produced the drive of his career to win the 3YO Ruby on Sunny Ruby.

Smith ran the Fred Fletcher trained filly out of the gate and then handed up to Prince Fearless.

In the trail, Sunny Ruby stalked the leader and then angled off wheels to run past a brave Monbet inside the final 50 metres to claim success.

"It's great to win a race like this for a couple of good mates in Sam and Maree (Smolenski's wife).

"They've done a fantastic job with this filly as she hasn't raced for a month but was bang on for today."

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Fletcher and Smolenski are no strangers to Jewels having won with Jinja Gal and Royal Aspirations but Smolenski admitted he was nervous heading into the Ruby.

"Just with not having that run, there was always a question mark. Gav drove her to perfection though, it's a pretty awesome feeling."

Monbet and Prince Fearless were great in defeat after doing plenty of work but the real drama came inside the first 20 metres when Speeding Spur broke. He lost considerable ground but managed to pick himself back up and run a mammoth fifth.

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Off the back of an incredible few months with his champion trotter Stent, prominent owner Trevor Casey looks to have unearthed a new star in little filly Missandei.

Out of a former Jewels winning mare Pocaro - she lacks for nothing in breeding but like all those who have the Casey name as breeder she seems to have the right amount of ability.

After a fourth, a third and a second in her last three starts, there was only one result required to make the form line complete - and victory was it.

Sent to the lead by Mark Purdon, she never looked back but did have to hold off the brave challenge of her stablemate High Gait while Wilma's Mate ran on well for third in the 2YO Ruby.

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Amanda Tomlinson nearly pulled off the biggest upset in Jewels history when 148/1 shot Zachary Binx roared at King Denny inside the final 100metres of the 4YO Ruby, King Denny decided he was done for the day and pulled up stumps.

"I wasn't sure we had done enough to hold to be honest," Purdon said.

The final margin was less than a head while Poppymalda emerged from the pack late to run in third.

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