Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Written by Paul Vettise
Wild Ruler (Snitzel) showed all the qualities of a future elite-level winner when he overcame a torrid run to beat a competitive lineup of age group rivals in the G2 Arrowfield 3YO Sprint.
The colt never got a sight of the fence from the outside gate, but wasn’t to be denied and he fended off his rivals to deservedly take the thick end of the $1 million purse.
Wild Ruler is now a two-time Group 2 winner having claimed the Roman Consul S. in the spring and his connections, which includes Henry Field’s Newgate, the China Horse Club, Go Bloodstock and WinStar Farm, will now plot a path to securing a Group 1 victory.
“It’s obviously something we’ll sit down and talk about and we’ve got a big group of players behind us,” Paul Snowden said.
“Henry (Field) has said there is no reason to go to stud soon so hopefully we will get to where we need to be and get that Group 1 and I’m sure we can.”
“Henry (Field) has said there is no reason to go to stud (with Wild Ruler) soon so hopefully we will get to where we need to be and get that Group 1 and I’m sure we can.” – Paul Snowden
Wild Ruler could have been forgiven for petering out after sitting wide out on the pace, but he showed an impressive depth of determination for rider James McDonald to rally in the straight.
“It was an extraordinary effort. To sit three deep without cover is hard to do in any race. Let alone an important one such as this so full credit to the horse,” Snowden said.
“Those behind him had nice runs in transit whereas we faced the breeze and did it tough and duly saluted.”
Wild Ruler has now won five of his 10 appearances and is unbeaten in four outings at Randwick.
“The bloke on top has got a fair bit to do with that. He knows the horse extremely well and when you get him on your horses you grow in confidence,” Snowden said. “James sat three deep and didn’t panic and got the job done.”
“James (McDonald) sat three deep and didn’t panic and got the job done.” – Paul Snowden
McDonald said Wild Ruler travelled well in the race, albeit covering extra ground, and had enough class and fight to win.
“It didn’t work out perfectly, but he got into a good rhythm and he toughed it out toward the end. He’s a tough colt and it's good to get this race on his CV because he’s very good on his day.
“It seems the tougher the run the better he goes. He’s got a good will to win and tries very hard and I’m sure he’s going to carry on with it.
“His connections are all good supporters of mine so it’s great to get this win for them.”
Wild Ruler hit the front about 175 metres from home and clung on tenaciously to beat the Queensland filly Isotope (Deep Field), whose late lunge came up agonizingly short.
Prague (Redoute’s Choice) powered home for third after a tardy beginning saw him well back in the running and the genuine Amish Boy (Star Witness) was next to cross the line.
