Cover image courtesy of The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Rubylot is the 2025 Classic Cup winner
Sixth in the first leg of the 4-year-old series, the Listed Classic Mile, Rubylot (Rubick) enjoyed the additional distance in the 1800-metre Listed Classic Cup on Sunday night at Sha Tin and won by 0.8l from Mile winner Mark Newham-trained My Wish (Flying Artie) with Pierre Ng-trained Johannes Brahms (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) in third.
“It really was (an excellent win). (Classic Mile Day) was the day where all the horses that cut the corner were the strongest and he still ran the third-fastest sectional and he went the widest,” Hayes said.
“That wasn’t the place to be. Brenton today learned from that – he cut the corner and peeled out into the straight and he was able to unleash that great sprint he’s got. You always look at this race to find the closers and that’s a good pointer to the Derby. I don’t think anyone ran home faster than him today. It was a brilliant sectional.”
Rubylot will head to the Listed Hong Kong Derby next on March 23. Hayes is now top of the trainer’s premiership with 35 wins for the season, a remarkable turnaround from the 2022-23 season when he came 13th in the pecking order.
“It would be very nice (to win another BMW Hong Kong Derby). It’s been a long time. It’s one of the races everyone in Hong Kong wants to win,” Hayes said. “To my eye, he (Rubylot) was the strongest late and that’s a good sign stepping up to the 2000 metres. Being a Rubick you were always concerned, but he’s out of a Dubawi mare and stoutly bred on the dam side.”
“To my eye, he (Rubylot) was the strongest late and that’s a good sign stepping up to the 2000 metres. Being a Rubick you were always concerned, but he’s out of a Dubawi mare and stoutly bred on the dam side.” - David Hayes
Rubylot became the 14th stakes winner for Rubick, whose best is Group 1 winner Jacquinot. Purchased by Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock from Woodside Park’s 2022 Inglis Ready To Race Sale for $100,000, Rubylot is the fourth foal and third winner for Emirates Comfort (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) whose 3-year-old gelding Desert Legend (Zousain) ran fourth recently, her 2-year-old gelding Buffo (Alymerton) is unraced and she has a colt foal by All Too Hard.
Emirates Comfort is a daughter of G1 Arlington Park Beverly D Stakes winner Royal Highness (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}) who also produced G2 Longchamp Prix Dollar winner Free Port Lux (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) and this is the family of G1 Breeders' Cup Turf winner Yibir (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}).
David Hayes | Image courtesy of The Hong Kong Jockey Club
The Hayes stable star Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) came from the same crop as Rubylot. “It was a pretty good crop of PPGs (previously unraced horses) to come out of Lindsay Park – him and Ka Ying Rising in the same year. One’s a staying version and one’s a speed version. I’m hoping (Rubylot) can do what most of the Classic Series horses that win (do) the next year and that compete in the upper-class races.”
Avdulla’s treble led by Rubylot
Australian jockey Brenton Avdulla’s win in the Listed Classic Cup on Rubylot was part of a treble for the evening. “It’s always nice to win big races, especially with everyone flying in – it was hard to get a ride today. I had four rides, I thought three of them were good, competitive rides and they’re the three that have lobbed. They all had nice runs in transit, got the job done,” Avdulla said.
Brenton Avdulla rejoices after Rubylot winning | Image courtesy of The Hong Kong Jockey Club
“Hayesey’ had the horse (Rubylot) spot on. He had a nice run-through and I was confident at the 250 (metres) he was going to get the job done. I’ve got no doubt if he drew a gate in the (Hong Kong Classic Mile) he would have gone very close (to winning).”
“Hayesey’ had the horse (Rubylot) spot on. He had a nice run-through and I was confident at the 250 (metres) he was going to get the job done. I’ve got no doubt if he drew a gate in the (Hong Kong Classic Mile) he would have gone very close (to winning).” - Brenton Avdulla
He also won on John Size-trained Enthralled (USA) (American Pharoah {USA}) who will head to the Hong Kong Derby next. “I actually said to John after I first rode (Enthralled) that if you had another two months up your sleeve, he’d be one of the live chances in the Derby,” Avdulla said.
“So, he’s had to get him there quickly. It’s not often you see John give them only a couple of trials and then run them in a mile. I think he’s a good quality horse and if he makes his way into the Derby field, he’ll be a live hope for sure.”
Known as James Webb when he raced in England, where he won twice from six starts, this was his third start in Hong Kong. His dam, Amuser (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is a beautifully bred unraced daughter of triple Group 1 winner Six Perfections (Fr) (Celtic Swing {GB}), who produced four stakes winners led by three full siblings to Amuser, being G2 Herbert Power Stakes winner Yacatan (Ire), G3 Arlington Park Modesty Handicap winner Faufiler (Ire), and Listed winner Mount Everest (Ire), as well as half-sibling G2 Chantilly Prix du Gros-Chene winner Planet Five (USA) (Storm Cat {USA}).
Avdulla's other winner was the John Size-trained Young Champion (Ire) (Zoustar).
Justifying impressive on debut
Trainer Caspar Fownes has unearthed an exciting sprinter with 3-year-old gelding Justifying (Justify {USA}) winning on debut for jockey Luke Ferraris. He covered the 1000 metres in 55.67 seconds.
“He’s a very fast horse and he’s got a long way to go because he’s still quite mature. I gave him two trials and normally I’d give them a few more but he looked to be ready to come to the races. He’s a pretty straightforward horse, he showed a lot of speed and I think he’s quite exciting,” Fownes said.
Sold by Nooralim Park at the 2023 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale to T Nolen for $100,000, Justifying was catalogued for the Inglis Ready To Race Sale but passed in.
Justifying is the third foal for Montana Flight (Flying Spur) and her third winner. Montana Flight is a full sister to G2 Roman Consul Stakes winner Montana Flyer, and a half-sister to G2 Light Fingers Stakes-placed Montana Sunset (More Than Ready {USA}) who is the dam of G3 SAJC David Coles AM Stakes-placed Iphimedia (Exceed And Excel). Montana Flight's yearling colt by Portland Sky was withdrawn from this year’s Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
