The Rubiton legacy

There is hardly a day goes by that we are not reminded of what a great sire was Rubiton.On Wednesday, Rubiton’s  daughter Rue Maple, from his last crop conceived just before his death, aged 22, in 2005, was most impressive winning at Sandown.

The filly, one of 28 live foals from that crop that are now aged three, is from the Canadian Silver mare Maple Rose, the last of her three foals before her death in 2006.

Rubiton (b h 1983, Century–Ruby, by Seventh Hussar (FR)) has sired 38 Stakes winners, and on Friday night, his brilliant son Lucky Secret (b g 2003, ex-Won’t Tell, by Rory’s Jester) will be attempting to win his first Group 1 in the Manikato Stakes (WFA 1200m) at Moonee Valley, a race Rubiton won in 1987 on his way to winning the Group 1 Cox Plate that year.

Later on Wednesday afternoon, Rubiton’s 6YO son Ruined Castle, a lightly-raced entire of only 12 starts, blitzed his rivals by 4.5 lengths in the 1200m 0-62 handicap.

Ruined Castle (b h 2003, ex-My Diamond Hope, by Karioi Star), who was bought by Aquanita Racing for only $12,000 at the 2005 Inglis Autumn Yearling Sale at Oaklands Junction, is now trained by Stuart Padman, and judging by that win, the wait has been worth it.