Ruby Armani's breakthrough black type victory at Awapuni has opened up options for trainers Mike Moroney and Pam Gerard.
The Makfi five-year-old boosted her future broodmare value when she went one better on the Palmerston North course to claim top honours in the Listed Manawatu ITM Anzac 1550m on Wednesday.
At her previous start, the
Matamata-prepared mare had finished runner-up at Awapuni in the Listed Flying
Handicap (1400m).
"She's been close in a few Group Threes earlier on so she really deserved that today," Gerard said.
"Her pet distance has been 1400m, but we stretched her out to the 1550m and she relaxed so well. She's doing everything right so it looks like she'll get a mile."
Ruby Armani had the leaders within her sights nearing the home turn and got to the front early in the run home for rider Darryl Bradley.
The topweight Shadows Cast, who was giving the winner seven kilos, finished doggedly to get within half a-head.
"It wasn't good for my heart, but Darryl obviously knew what he was doing and it probably looked closer from our point of view to when you're on top," Gerard said.
Ruby Armani's immediate future will be decided on her return home.
"She's been up for a while and we didn't think she really handled wet tracks, but for some unknown reason she's handling them okay," Gerard said.
"There is a Listed race at Rotorua and one back at Manawatu for her. We were going to send her to the paddock and bring her back for the spring so it all depends how she pulls up." – NZ Racing Desk.
