SCST NOV 08 - TOY RULER THE KING OF THE CASTLE

By Graham Potter | Thursday, November 12, 2009

Sunshine Coast, November 8, 2009.
Track - Good 3. Rail - out 10m.
Maiden Plate (Set Weights) - 1400m. Time 1-27.06.
1 Toy Ruler; 2 Lord Downer; 3 Tudor Arcade.

Toy Ruler scored his breakthrough win in his second start since transferring to the stable of trainer Lyn Manzelmann. The gelding had put the writing on the wall with a promising runner-up finish at Ipswich over 1100m last time and he went one better here with a no nonsense display when easily outgunning his eight rivals.

Jockey Andrew Spinks settled the five-year-old in fifth place on the rail until the turn. Spinks shifted Toy Ruler out into clear running on straightening and the Manzelmann trained runner had little difficulty in moving past the four runners who were in front of him when the field turned for home.

The early leader Lord Downer looked keen to fight back when headed by Toy Ruler inside the final 100m, but Toy Leader always had that move covered. The fact that you had to go back 3.80 lengths to the third placed runner underlines the authority with which Toy Ruler took care of this field. The performance was in keeping with Toy Ruler’s restrictive starting price of $1.60.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Lyn Manzelmann: “We were very happy with the run at Ipswich, but he drew a bit of a bad barrier there and the pace was on with that run. Today ... a bit slower and drawn two he was up closer than he was last week ... very happy with it. Yeah, we did step up in distance (from 1100m to 1400m) and I think he is even looking for further.”

Jockey Andrew Spinks: “Yeah, he jumped out well. There wasn’t going to be any pace in the race at all so we knew he was going to be a bit closer. We got into midfield. He tracked up nicely. Then I just got him out at the turn and out of trouble and, you know, he let down really well. I guess that’s the way to ride a short-priced favourite. Just keep him out of trouble.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Toy Ruler): 1.80 in to 1.60.
The winner was the favourite.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Punctilio (S. Katsidis) and Lord Downer (J. Byrne) were both slow to begin. Near the 300m, Sir Knight (M. Hellyer) momentarily became awkward.

Sunday Story suffered a bleeding attack during the event and was retired from the race. A post-race veterinary examination of Sunday Story confirmed the horse had bled and trainer B. Lineburg was advised that Sunday Story would be barred from racing for a period of three months and would be required to perform a 1000m gallop before stewards prior to being permitted to race again.