THE Modern Ruler juggernaut kept rolling last Saturday night with the James Rattray-trained gelding scoring his fourth successive harness racing free-for-all victory on the spacious Menangle track.
It was his third Group 3 success in succession and a win that now has Rattray champing at the bit to get the Tasmanian-owned gelding to his first Group 1 assignment.
Modern Ruler is raced on lease by Tasmanian harness and thoroughbred trainer Steve Davis and his wife Marnie.
He joined the Rattray stable in May and last Saturday night's victory was his sixth from eight starts for the talented Tasmanian mentor who left the state just over two years ago to try and make on the mainland.
Last Saturday night Modern Ruler left from gate eight and settled midfield before Rattray circumnavigated the field to cross to the front and he went on to score an emphatic win over Iam Mr Brightside and Spirit and Desire.
The gelded son of Modern Art clocked a mile rate of 1.55.4 over the 2300-metres but he has clocked a rate of 1.526 over the flying mile (1609m).
Rattray confirmed he will take Modern Ruler to Queensland next month for two races during the Queensland Grand Circuit carnival.
"Modern Ruler will head to the $100,000 Gold Coast Cup on October 17 and a week later he'll go to the Group 1 Queensland Pacing Championship ($200,000)," Rattray said.
"I am confident he's up to Group 1 level but I hope to know for sure after the QPC," he said.
Modern Ruler won his way through to free-for-all grade in Tasmania but after missing a place in the Devonport Cup his Tasmanian owner-trainer Steve Davis took him to Melbourne where at his second start at Melton he won an M0 after which he was sent to Rattray in late May.
Modern Ruler
Peter Staples