Banned twice by stewards for her poor barrier manners, Fontein Ruby tracked the leader Fifty Eight Facets (Dane Shadow) into the straight and came away to defeat that filly by one and three-quarter lengths. The Peter Moody-trained first starter She Brings Hope (Sebring) did just that by hanging on resolutely for third.
Ridden by Mark Zahra for Caulfield trainer Robert Smerdon, Fontein Ruby (pictured as a yearling) is expected to be kept in work for the start of the new season.
Stable representative Stuart Webb said the daughter of Turffontein had presented the stable with a fair share of problems.
"She's been stood down twice, so we introduced her to the barrier blanket, took her home and did a lot of work with her," Webb said.
"I thought she was very good late today.
"It's good to win a valuable VOBIS race like this, they're a big group of owners and have been patient so to win a race like this is satisfying."
"There's no reason to stop with her now, so she'll race on in the new season and see if we can pick up another one."
A $50,000 purchase by Aquanita Racing from the Blue Gum Farm consignment at the 2013 Inglis Premier Yearling sale, Fontein Ruby is the fourth foal out of the unraced Rubiton mare Charming Ruby a three-quarter sister to 2-time WS Cox Plate hero Fields of Omagh and a half-sister to 2-time Tristarc Stakes winner and multiple Group 1 placed Infinite Grace (Prince of Birds).
Fontein Ruby becomes the second winner for Blue Gum Farm's Group I winning sprinter Turffontein (Johannesburg) who will stand his fifth season at a fee of $7,700.
