Universal Ruler Cements Top 5

Belmont winner Calabria Joe has propelled Universal Ruler into the Top 5 on Australia’s first-season premiership for 2013-14.

Calabria Joe had been runner-up on debut at Pinjarra before a milestone victory in the Westspeed Nursery (1400m) at Belmont’s rain-shortened meeting on Saturday.  “He’s my first-ever two year-old winner,” trainer Justin Warwick said.  “Hopefully, the horse has a bright future ahead.”

Scenic Lodge freshman Universal Ruler has sired 4 winners of 8 races this season for $434,470 in prizemoney.  He’s the most successful stallion on the national first-season ladder outside of Hunter Valley sires I Am Invincible, Denman, Duporth and All American.

Calabria Joe (2g Universal Ruler – Tivoli Danz by Danzero) is a younger three-quarter brother to LR Matchmaker Classic winner Scenic Fair.  Brisbane sprinter-miler Banff Connection is another Scenic stakes winner in the family.

The Warwick family have embraced the gallops since moving across from a very successful career in the harness industry.  Justin’s in-form apprentice daughter Lucy rode the winner and his wife Carol owns the promising youngster.

“Lucy positioned him perfectly,” Warwick said.  “He got a tow into the lane and then went clear.  There’s plenty of improvement to come but he does need blinkers.”

Universal Ruler (Scenic) defeated Horse of the Year Scenic Blast in the in the LR Perth Stakes when they were two year-olds.  He trained on to a Group 3 victory in the Belmont Sprint.

Scenic Lodge will stand Universal Ruler for a $3,850 (inc gst) fee this year.

Article by:  Karl Patterson, Photography Sharon Walker.

First foal of the Season for Blackfriars

Scenic lodges first foal of the season was born last night.(26th). A beautiful filly by Blackfriars out of Ortessa.

Rebel Rates Highly In Perth

Rebel King was sent for a spell immediately after scoring a brave victory burdened with 60kg in the Westspeed Nursery (1000m) at Belmont on Saturday.

The son of Scenic Lodge freshman Universal Ruler was winning his fourth city race in a row for Impressive Racing and trainer Darren McAuliffe. “He’s had a good prep and is already in the paddock,” McAuliffe said on Tuesday. “I will discuss our options with the owners later this month.”

Rebel King (2g Universal Ruler – Rebel Sister by Falbrav) overcame difficulties to defeat Sheidel by a nose at his last outing for the season. “It was a tough win,” McAuliffe declared. “He had to spot the runner-up 6kg and, after he returned to scale, we discovered he had burst a near-fore abscess during the race.”
McAuliffe reckons Rebel King has the rest of Perth’s two year-olds covered even though he didn’t break through until the Belmont season started on May 3. In light of those comments, it will be interesting to see where Rebel King rates compared to stakes winners like Hobart Jones (Karrakatta Plate) and Cadenza

(Magic Millions Classic) when the juvenile rankings are released at season’s end.
Looking ahead to next season, McAuliffe will limit Rebel King to a sprinting campaign. “He will be kept to his own age group and we may take him east. The prizemoney here for a sprinting three year-old doesn’t compare with Melbourne.
“We will resist the temptation to run him in the Winterbottom Stakes. He would get in with no weight but that race will be our target next year. That’s how highly I rate him.”
Rebel King will help Universal Ruler claim the WA first-season sires’ title and he can extend that lead at Belmont later this week with Rule To Wyn (Wednesday) and Military Ruler (Saturday).
Universal Ruler (Scenic) is also in the Top 6 on the Australian premiership with progeny earnings over $288,000. Scenic Lodge will stand him for a $3,850 (inc gst) fee this year.