The buzz surrounding Universal Ruler continues to grow

It’s only early days but the buzz surrounding Universal Ruler continues to grow in advance of the Initial Plate (1000m) at Belmont. 

The Scenic Lodge freshman will be double-handed in Perth’s first two year-old event of the season in just over a fortnight.  

Ascot trainer Shane Quilty has several youngsters heading to the Initial Plate and his Universal Ruler colt Universal King is rated the stable pick after an impressive hit-out at Lark Hill a fortnight ago.  Versed Remedy backed that up with a promising trial win at Lark Hill on Tuesday morning.  “She was slow out of the gates but finished it off nicely,” trainer Darren McAuliffe said.  “She wasn’t under any pressure but we will definitely have to give her some more barrier practice.  

“She’s a strong, short-coupled filly and will tighten up between now and the Initial Plate.”  

Versed Remedy (2f Universal Ruler – Elixaar by Xaar) descends from a long line of precocious fillies – her dam won two sprints for Ascot trainer Stan Bates and second-dam Walk the Wild Side (Snaadee) was placed behind Testa Rossa in the 1998 Maribyrnong Plate at Flemington.  

There’s a Lindsay Park influence going further down the pedigree page through black-type fillies Regal Walk (Godswalk) and Queen Of Angels (Without Fear).  

Universal Ruler was a stakes winner at two, beating Scenic Blast no less, in the LR Perth Stakes at Ascot.  “He should have just about won the Karrakatta Plate, too,” McAuliffe said.  “It was my mistake – I gave him an extra gallop and he went shin-sore.”  

McAuliffe has over 20 two year-olds by Universal Ruler on the books ready to make amends including the half-brothers to Perth stakes winners El Rijes and Rebelson.  “We also have a gelding named Elusive Ruler who I rate among the best of them.  He’s well over 16 hands already and he might be our Karrakatta horse.”

Universal Ruler (Scenic) stands alongside champion sire Blackfriars at Scenic Lodge. 

Blackfriars sired juvenile trial winner Prentice at Lark Hill on Tuesday morning.  He is out of a sister to Scenic gelding Oraya Gold who was beaten a short-head in the 2006 Karrakatta Plate.

Universal Ruler is available at a discounted service fee of $3,500 this year.  For further enquiries, broodmare owners should call Scenic Lodge on (08) 9571 0155

Initial plate program for Universal King

Ascot trainer Shane Quilty has wheeled out several early-goers in trials this month and he rates Universal King as the stable’s leading candidate for Perth’s opening event of the two year-old season. 

Universal King is a son of Scenic Lodge sire Universal Ruler and he’s on track for the $60,000 Westspeed Initial Plate (1000m) at Belmont on October 12.  

“He’s a nice type, alright,” Quilty said.  “Tall, athletic and with a beautiful temperament.”  

Universal King (2c Universal Ruler – Royal Agenda by At Talaq) finished a half-head second to stablemate Fathing Fast (Fath) in a Lark Hill hit-out on September 9.  “Fathing Fast is very fast and I thought he had four or five lengths on them – but Universal King served it right up to him!  And he’s got more scope for improvement.”  

An Irish expat who came out here as a jockey in 1995, Quilty rode in Perth and the Eastern States until a bad fall forced him out of the saddle.  “I was with Fred Kersley during the golden era of Northerly,” he recalled.  “I didn’t really see myself as a trainer but now we have over 20 in work.”  

Quilty’s workload increased when he began training for Loloma Farms owner Kevin Fowler and his partner Kelly Everett.  Besides Universal King and Fathing Fast, they race newcomers Superior Troy (De Troy), Roundhouse (Fath) and Buddy Lucky (Viscount) who have also been placed in trials at Belmont and Lark Hill.  

The Perth couple bred Universal King after buying his dam Royal Agenda at the 2008 Inglis Great Southern Sale in Melbourne.  She had won a Seymour 2YO Maiden and her dam Royal Accord (Imperial Prince) was a 2YO winner at Caulfield and Moonee Valley.  

Scenic Lodge general manager Jeremy Smith said early reports from a cross-section of trainers about their Universal Rulers has been extremely positive.  “Universal Ruler was an early running type himself with a lot of natural pure speed,” Smith said.  “That was a big factor in securing him for Scenic Lodge.  

“I’m optimistic that feedback will translate into what really matters and that’s results on the racetrack.” 

Universal Ruler (Scenic) defeated Australian Horse of the Year Scenic Blast in the LR Perth 2YO Stakes at Ascot.  Further black-type wins came his way in the G3 Belmont Sprint, LR Easter Stakes and LR Bunbury Stakes during a 12 start career.

 Universal Ruler has been well supported at Scenic Lodge but a stallion’s fourth book is always the hardest to fill.  To encourage breeders still considering their options, his fee has been reduced from $5,500 to $3,500 this year. (Picture:- Mare;Snowshoes with Universal Rulers first foal of the 2013 season.)