Making her sixth start, the honest Rubick filly Erno's Cube came out on top in a three-horse war in Saturday's Group II Yarraman Park Reisling Stakes (1200m) at Randwick.
Erno's Cube sweeps late (image Steve Hart)
Ridden by Jason Collett for Ciaron Maher, the daughter of Rubick came from last to overpower Godolphin's Too Darn Hot (GB) filly Silmarillion by a head with another daughter of Too Darn Hot (GB), Too Darn Lizzie, a long-head back in third.
The winner of the Max Lees Classic at Newcastle in November, Erno's Cube was a last-start third behind Straight Charge and Espionage in the Group II Silver Slipper Stakes (1100m).
Despite earning a ticket to the Golden Slipper, the stable would not commit to a start in the race.
"We will see how she comes through it first. The Slipper is always tempting, but the boys seem to be better than the fillies this year," stable rep Johann Gerard-Dubord said.
"She’d gone two weeks from the Silver Slipper, so the right thing to do would be to give her a bit of time and go to the Percy Sykes, but we’ll see how she comes through it. It’s a discussion to have also now she is a Group Two winner.
“She has been going for a long time, she’s had a little freshen between races but she seems to handle her racing very well.”
“She is still improving physically and mentally but still doing plenty wrong. From that gate it was always going to be a bit tricky.
“She didn’t help herself early, once she got a bit of cover she dropped the bridle and it was a good effort to be able to quicken and get her nose in front.
“She had two weeks after the Gimcrack where she was a bit disappointing and did a few things wrong. She had a week in the paddock after Magic Millions and that’s all. She goes to Bong Bong after her runs, it’s a great facility, she puts her head down in the paddock for a few days and that keeps her going.
Erno's Cube a $230,000 Magic Millions yearling
“It keeps her fresh and very fit.
“If we didn’t have Bong Bong, we probably wouldn’t get the result we have today. We’ve got a good team there.
“It’s great to get a win for Mick Johnston and that group of owners.”
Ciaron Maher Bloodstock purchased Erno's Cube for $230,000 from the Edinglassie Thoroughbred draft at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Bred by Daleigh Park Livestock, Erno's Cube is the second winner from three to race for the unraced Stratum mare Long Wink, a sister to the Listed MRC Debutant Stakes winner Eramor, and to the dam of the multiple stakes-winners Emerald Kingdom and Steel Frost.
A daughter of the Listed Dark Jewel Classic winner Romare (Marscay), Long Wink has suffered misfortune in the last two seasons, with her North Pacific foal dying after birth in 2021 and missing in 2022.
The daughter of Stratum was covered by Jacquinot last spring.
Erno’s Cube is the 12th stakes-winner for Swettenham Stud’s Rubick.
