Ruby Roe wins heat of Oaks

Bruce Stewart Contributor

Harness racing filly Ruby Roe (Captaintreacherous) extended her very good record when she took out a heat of the Nevele R/Macca Lodge Southern Oaks at Oamaru today.

Driven by trainer Nathan Williamson the John and Katrina Price owned filly settled back from a wide draw and got home best to beat pacemaker Melody Banner by half a length. Ruby Roe’s stablemate Flying Ellie which trailed the leader finished third a neck away.

“She was pretty impressive. She had to do all the work and was still too good, so we’re thrilled with that,” Williamson said.

Ruby Roe (Bruce Stewart Photo)

The win was Ruby Roe’s fourth in just six starts and her second on the Oamaru track.

The 2000 metre mobile was run in 2-26.5 (1-57.9 mile rate) with the last 800 metres run in 55.6.

“She’s at the improving stage and has handled the trip away and something different today. She’s quite a talented filly.”

Williamson was also happy with the run of Flying Ellie.

“She’s going good races Ellie. She always flies under the radar. She burnt out of the gate and was keen to go which was good to see. Probably the sectionals of that race made it hard for her to claw back that ground.”

Both Ruby Roe and Flying Ellie join stablemate Dreams Are Free and head north to Auckland on Monday with their major assignment being the Group One Northern Oaks.

Once both fillies return south they’ll target the $60,000 Group Two Southern Oaks Final on Diamonds Day at Ascot Park on April 21^st.

Earlier in the day the Williamson trained Rakamurph (Captaintreacherous) returned to winning form by taking out the Placemakers Mobile Pace winning by four lengths.

Rakamurph (Bruce Stewart Photo)

“It was a step in the right direction for him. He had a lot of racing as a two year old and we were wondering whether that had been detrimental. His works been good, and he had been well in the last month or so. Hopefully he can carry on and hit some good form.”

The four year old last won at Invercargill in November 2022 as a two year old and in seven starts as a three year old went winless.