Racing: Court Ruler measures up well in Derby

Expatriate New Zealand jockey Larry Cassidy had praise for Taranaki trainer John Wheeler but was not so complimentary about Court Ruler after the trio triumphed in the group one Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm, Brisbane, on Saturday.

Wheeler may be New Zealand-based, but he is famous in Queensland over his deeds in training the mighty Rough Habit, who won a Queensland Derby, two Stradbroke Handicaps and three Doomben Cups in the early 1990s.

Cassidy said Court Ruler was one of the "dopiest" horses he had ever ridden, but had been trained to the minute by Wheeler.

"He is a horse who you can never get to travel during a race and that was what happened when he finished behind Rockdale in the Rough Habit Plate," Cassidy told reporters.

"With the blinkers back on him I thought he was a certainty, but at the top of the straight I thought we were going to finish third.

"He is just a very tough horse who is perfectly trained."

The win was Cassidy's third in the $500,000 Queensland Derby and the ninth Derby win of his career.

It was the 19th anniversary of Wheeler's win in the Derby with Rough Habit and came just a few days after Rough Habit was an inaugural inductee into the Stradbroke Hall of Fame.

Wheeler is a part owner of Court Ruler, who gave his sire, Viking Ruler, his first group one winner.

"Court Ruler is not in the same class as Rough Habit, but he is a very tough horse. He just keeps giving," Wheeler told the Courier Mail.

He had matured since running fourth in the New Zealand Derby at Ellerslie in March behind Coniston Bluebird and had benefited greatly from the trip to Queensland.

Wheeler would not pursue the rich Melbourne cups races this year.

"It is hard to take them back home and then take them to Melbourne for the spring. I tried with Rough Habit and I failed. It was the only time he failed. It's too hard backing them up if you don't give them a good break," Wheeler said.

Court Ruler dived late to catch Shocking just short of the line,while Larry's Never Late, whohad raced clear at the top of the straight, just held out Prix Du Sang for third.

Another New Zealander, Izonit, boxed on well for fifth.

The race had plenty of drama, with Old Jock compounding near the 800m and causing a flurry of action as he dropped back.

The worst affected was the Graeme Rogerson-trained Bid Spotter, with Cassidy's brother Jim almost catapulted out of the saddle as the horse lost all chance. He will have scans on a shoulder injured in the incident.

Wheeler was out of luck in the Brisbane Cup (2400m) with Petushki, Stand Tall and I'm Isaac all back in the field. Stand Tall pulled up lame.

The Moroney brothers, Mike and Paul, had to be content with minor placings, but went close in the three main features, with Mr Baritone a close-up fourth when attempting to win the Stradbroke for the second year running, Tinseltown third in the Brisbane Cup, and Prix Du Sang fourth.

Sir Slick, in his fifth run in as many weeks, was fifth in the Cup, while La Etoile was a fast-finishing third in the Queensland Guineas.

- NZPA