A rare failure when trailing the field home in the Group 1
Australian Guineas at her most recent start, Fontein Ruby was back to her own
sex and her favoured front running role to take out Friday nights Schweppes
Alexandra Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley.
Reunited with Mark Zahra, Fontein Ruby was traveling sweetly
in the race but two of her biggest dangers, Wawail and Bahamas were within striking
distance coming around the home turn.
But Fontein Ruby was not about to surrender her lead and she
was going as strongly as anything on the line.
The daughter of Turffontein had a margin of one and a quarter lengths over Bahamas (Teofilo) with favourite Wawail (Lonhro) a short-neck back in third.
In earning her third stakes victory, the Robert
Smerdon-trained filly advances her overall record to 5 wins, 2 seconds and 3 thirds
from 16 starts for earnings of $880,370.
"She loves being out there bowling along," Zahra said.
"I got it easy enough in front for her then I was able to step
it up and I knew she would be strong all the way to the post.
"Back on top in front today things going her way she was
back to her best."
Connections will decide whether Fontein Ruby contests stakes races in Sydney or Adelaide in the next few weeks.
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 of the unraced Rubiton mare Charming Ruby a three-quarter sister to
dual 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).
Charming Ruby is proving a very reliable producer. She has a
2yo sister to Fontein Ruby named Eloquent Ruby who is yet to race.
She has a yearling colt and weanling colt both by Master Of
Design.
Charming Ruby was covered by Zoustar last spring.
