Many harness racing trainers in New Zealand focus on trotters rather than pacers and one of the most successful in that regard is the Weedons horseman Fred Fletcher.
Whenever Fred lines a trotter in any of the classics it pays to take notice as he has had a great run for longer than I care to remember.
Today at Ashburton he lined up the smart Sundon filly Sunny Ruby in the Group 1 Harness Jewels three year old $100,000 Ruby and although the formline was impeccable, she went out at odds of twelve to one.
Away well to lead from barrier two for driver Gavin Smith, Sunny Ruby took a trail soon after behind the well performed Prince Fearless.
Monbet and Ricky May breezed up at the 500 metres mark and slowly started to wear down Prince Fearless.
Just when everyone was acclaiming Monbet the winner, Gavin Smith angled Sunny Ruby wider on the track and flew late to win a lot more easily than it looked.
Monbet battled on bravely for second in front of the pacemaking Prince Fearless.
Warm favourite Speeding Spur galloped wildly soon after the start and then produced a massive performance to run fifth just under seven lengths from the winner
Sunny Ruby trotted the mile in 1:54.7 which took a massive 1.8 seconds off the previous New Zealand record for a three year old trotter held by Prime Power.
Gavin Smith was quick to heap praise on Fred post race.
" Fred has done a great job with this filly to get her to race a lot kinder and he deserves a lot of the credit for today's win."
" I got a lovely run on the back of Prince Fearless and I thought I was a chance at the 200 metres when she was travelling so well."
"She has tremendously high speed if saved for one run," Gavin said.
Todays Harness Jewels win by Sunny Ruby was Fred Fletchers third and just further added further lustre to his reputation as a great trainer of trotters.
Harnesslink Media