The success of Cambridge Stud is invariably linked to the champion Zabeel or possibly Stravinsky, but it was two of the famed studs lesser lights, both sons of the legendry Danehill, Viking Ruler and Keeper that earned all the plaudits on Saturday.

Keeper was represented by his third Group 1 winner when Patinack Farm’s Linky Dink, the least experienced runner in the field, strolled home in the $500,000 Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm.

At the same venue two races later, Viking Ruler passed a milestone when the John Wheeler-trainer Court Ruler became his first Group 1 winner by capturing the $500,000 Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m).

Viking Ruler topped off a great day for Cambridge Stud when his highly promising son Kroner scored an easy win in the time-honoured June Stakes (LR) at Randwick.

In her first three career runs, Linky Dink gave little evidence she was an emerging Group 1 winner.

The Jason Coyle-trained filly finished 7 of 10 at Randwick at her career debut on May 2 then 9 of 15 a fortnight later at Doomben. At her most recent start, Linky Dink finished tenth in the QTC Sires Produce Stakes won by Shoot Out. The daughter of Keeper (pictured left) turned that result around as the gelding disappointed as favourite, struggling home in seventh place.

Peter Robl gave Linky Dink (Keeper x Gimmick (NZ) (Sir Tristram (IRE)) a cosy run behind the pacesetting Spot On Target (Markane) who refused to give in without a fight before Linky Dink edged away for a 2-length victory. Southport (Mull of Kintyre (USA), ran his usual honest race, 1 ¼-legth back in third.

A $250,000 purchase by Patinack Farm from the Cambridge Stud consignment at the 2008 NZ Bloodstock premier Yearling sale, Linky Dink is the seventh foal of the Sire Tristram mare Gimmick, winner of the Listed AJC Reginald Allen Hcp at Randwick.

A three-quarter sister to the dam of Schillaci Stakes (G2) winner Halibery and a half-sister to the dam of Rosehill Guineas (G1) winner Sale Of The Century, Gimmick is a granddaughter of Tupelo Honey (Vice Regal), the dam of NZ Oaks (G1) and AJC oaks (G1) heroine Domino (Grosvenor), the dam of multiple Group 1 winner Hero (Deputy Governor).

While Linky Dink was a surprise winner, Queensland derby winner Court Ruler had some useful form back in New Zealand. A Group 3 winner he finished fourth in the NZ Derby (G1) won by Australian invader Coniston Bluebird.

Ridden by Larry Cassidy, Court Ruler (Viking Ruler x Free Court (NZ) (Pompeii Court (USA)) held off the fast finishing Shocking (Street Cry (Ire) by a long-neck with the same distance back to Larry’s Never Late (Pentire (GB), who looked the winner 100 metres from home.

It was the second Queensland Derby for Wheeler after the champion Rough Habit won in 1990.

Wheeler had purchased the gelding for $30,000 from the Cheveley Stud draft at the 2007 NZ Bloodstock Select yearling sale.

A half-brother to the stakes-placed Categlory (Felix The Cat), out of the good racemare Free Court (Pompeii Court), Court Ruler descends from a solid if undistinguished family.

By comparison, Kroner (pictured) is a blueblood. Purchased by DGR Thoroughbred Services for $225,000 at the 2006 Magic Millions Yearling sale, Kroner has proved something of an enigma. A half-brother to 2006 AJC Australian Derby (G1) winner Headturner (Anabaa), by a stallion whose only stakes win came in the AJC Spring Champion Stakes (G1), and trained by the greatest trainer of stayers the sport has known, Kroner just wants to sprint.

The handsome son of Viking Ruler took his earnings to $258,777from a record of 6 wins, 1 second and 2 thirds from 14 starts with his 1 ¼-length defeat of Welcom Gold (Johannesburg (USA)) and Teasing (More Than Ready (USA)) in the $100,000 Listed June Stakes (1200m) at Randwick.