Mike Reed Sweet On His Filly Ruby Lou
Ruby Lou pictured as a yearling, Photo: KTC Bloodstock
With plenty of first starters emerging on Tuesday night at Gloucester Park, the 2YO Sales Classic heats have been run and won and the final field has been selected ahead of the 2024 APG Sales Classic Finals for the 2Y0’s next Friday, March 1.
The first of the fillies went to battle in the first heat, with Bull Shark Betty earning her spot in the $125,000 final.
Bull Shark Betty (Sportswriter USA x Isti) is trained by Chris Beckett and was purchased by the large ownership group led by the Beckett family for $28,000 and in the first heat she was able to settle in the one-out-one-back position before Gary Hall Jnr made his move three wide with 400m to go, coming home the better to claim the first for the fillies in 1:57:2.
Copper Head Lady (Sweet Lou USA x Artistic Copper) was the winner in heat 2 for Ryan Bell and Kyle Symington, with the $40,000 purchase driven out from the mobile to settle in the one-one, with Symington making his move three wide with 400m to go, going on to win by a 6.5m margin over Crunchee in the fastest qualifier, 1:56:2.
Ruby Lou was the final heat winner for the fillies, with the now two-time winner leading all the way over the 1730m trip in 1:58:2 for trainer Mike Reed, driven by Shannon Suvaljko.
Although Mike Reed is currently in New Zealand at the yearling sales, he has spoken to Kevin Keys since the race and Ruby Lou has pulled up a treat, eating everything from her feed bin after Tuesday nights win.
“She will only get better, she’s good gaited, she’s got speed and I think what she did last night, she will only improve.”
“I think she’s a nice filly, she reminds me a lot of Water Lou actually, very similar to her, so if she’s a s good as her I will be very happy,
“I wouldn’t swap her for any other filly let’s put it that way.” Reed said.
Ruby Lou was an extremely striking filly at last years sale, selling to Swandoo Racing Pty Ltd for $80,000.
Reed is currently in New Zealand and has purchased one yearling at the sales and is currently in the process of securing a three-year-old half brother to Millwood Nike, Ohoka Nico.
Robbie Williams will have a decision to make ahead of next weeks final with the astute trainer claiming two of the colts and geldings’ heats on the night.
Louie Vee (Stay Hungry US x My West End Girl NZ) has made it two from two, with the $36,000 purchase leading from start to stop in the first heat for the boys, with a winning mile rate of 1:57:1, the fastest for the colts and geldings’ heats.
Top price sale topper in Hold The Ammo (Sweet Lou USA x Invidia) claimed the second heat for Kat Warwick and Chris Lewis, with the $140,000 yearling settling in the one-out-one-back position throughout the 1730m journey with Lewis peeling three wide at the 400m mark to win by 3.3m over When In Vegas who powered home in the closing stages.
Mysta Moon Walker (Foreclosure NZ x Salacious Gossip) started as the $1.50 favourite in the final heat of the night and after a short battle for the lead was able to hit the front, going all the way in race 10 to claim top spot in 1:59:9.
Williams is impressed by both geldings at this stage and believes the only thing that will separate them is the barrier draw in next weeks final.
WA breeder KTC Bloodstock is once again heavily represented in the APG Sales Classic Finals with five runners and one emergency going through to the finals at Gloucester Park on March 1.
“We are absolutely delighted to see the KTC Graduates perform so well last night in the APG Heats,
“Our family put so much time and effort into our product and we get such a thrill out of seeing the owners of these two-year-olds be rewarded for having faith in our product,
“let’s hope they can get the job done on the big stage Friday week.” Kody Charles said.
2YO APG Classic Fillies Final: 2YO APG Classic C&G Final:
Bettagetonpip Charivari
Bull Shark Betty Control The Room
Copper Head Lady Float My Boat
Crunchee Hold The Ammo
Highview Heidi It Is Crunch Time
Jaxs Ideal Louie Vee
Repossession Mysta Moon Walker
Ruby Lou The Merry Maker
Stella Deliziosa When In Vegas
Winter Wonder Wicked Hustler
Wicked Lover (Em1) Last Hard Copy (Em1)
Queen Of All (Em2) The Bettor Side (Em2)
Ashleigh Paikos