Mat Rue and Madi Young with Cheeky Kiss following her NSW Bred Final success at Menangle last Saturday night. Photo by Club Menangle
FOR any trainer, the ambition of having a classy juvenile in their stable is something they always strive for.
Bathurst mentor Mat Rue is preparing a classy team of three-year-old pacers and enjoying a great deal of success with them.
It has been a busy few weeks for Rue, including a trip to Victoria last month where he was represented by Ideal Timing and Boulevardofdreams in the Group 1, $150,000 Gold Bullion three-year-old finals.
Ideal Timing ran out of his skin after coming from well back to finish third behind fellow New South Wales pacer Soho Spectre in the final for colts and geldings while Boulevardofdreams overcame an unlucky chequered passage to finish fourth behind Perpetuity in the fillies’ division.
Rue’s team continued the creditable efforts from Victoria last Saturday at Sydney’s Tabcorp Park Menangle when unbeaten filly Cheeky Kiss took out the NSW Bred Series Final.
A veteran of only four starts, the daughter of Always B Miki held off the fast-finishing A Lot Of Luvin to score by a head margin and keep her perfect record intact.
“We are having a great time of things at the moment,” said Rue.
“I was so impressed with the way both horses performed and took the step up in Victoria.
“And then for us to come back a week later and take out one of the features at Menangle with Cheeky Kiss was awesome.
“All three horses have bright futures in my opinion, and each are raced by great clients of ours.
“We will now give them a well-earned break before bringing them back to prepare for a Breeders Challenge campaign later in the year.”
Rue has a busy schedule at Bathurst on Wednesday night where he will line up five pacers of his own and will drive for three outside stables.
Mysweetpog will be looking to repeat last week’s winning effort in the opening event, taking on a similar field with star junior reinsman Jett Turnbull again taking the reins.
Her brilliant early speed should play in her favour given that she has drawn in gate six and will need to take advantage of that, given that her racing style is to be up in the firing line.
Rue’s consistent pacer Court On The Edge takes on a strong field in Race 4 but has drawn well in gate three.
