Plans to take Tasmanian-owned pacer Modern Ruler to Queensland for two major races remain unchanged despite the gelding’s shock loss at the harness racing meeting at Menangle last Saturday night.
Modern Ruler was attempting to win his fourth Group 3 event in succession on Saturday night but in a small field he was unable to achieve the feat and had to settle for third behind Iam Mr Brightside and Shannonsablast in the Zilco Free For All over 2300 metres.
Modern Ruler is trained in NSW by Tasmanian James Rattray and raced on lease by Tasmanians Steve and Marnie Davis who will head to Sydney next week to collect the horse and some travelling companions for the trip to Queensland
“We are having Modern Ruler’s bloods done as a precautionary measure but both James and I are confident the race was not run to suit and that is what brought about his downfall on Saturday night, “ Davis said.
“We have made plans to take the whole family, kids and all, to Queensland for two weeks so we will fly out next Tuesday and go to James’ stables and float the horse and a couple of stablemates to Queensland.”
“We plan to do it in stages so it won’t be too taxing on the horses,” he said.
Modern Ruler was sent to Rattray earlier this year after he won a race at Melton in Victoria and after a trial at Goulburn the seven-year-old lined up at Menangle and won by 20 metres which convinced Rattray he had a future.
Modern Ruler has won six times from nine starts fo4r Rattray and leading up to last Saturday night’s minor placing he had won four in succession of which three carried Group 3 status.
The gelded son of Modern Art will be aimed at the Gold Coast Cup at Albion Park on October 17 and then on to the Group 1 Queensland Pacing Championship a week later.
Peter Staples