Jockey John Powell “squared up” with Ruapehu after he drove the “hothead” to a brilliant win in the $75,000 Restricted Maiden race over 1100m on Friday night.
The Australian rider hurt his right thumb after Ruapehu flipped at the barriers at his second start on May 4, an untimely injury which forced him on the sidelines for a while and jeopardised his booking aboard Slew Of Lode in the Group 1 KrisFlyer International Sprint (1200m) on May 18.
But luckily, his thumb recovered and Powell was back in the saddle in time, even if he finished unplaced aboard Slew Of Lode in the glamour sprint race.
When Ruapehu was entered for the Friday race, trainer Laurie Laxon had no hesitation in putting the heavyweight jockey back on. He has after all ridden him to a super first-up second at his debut on April 11 – and would know the cantankerous son of Stravinsky well enough.
There was to be no barrier drama this time. As a matter of fact, the race went to a perfect script from start to finish when Ruapehu blazed out of his outside gate to take up the running in the 12-horse field after 300m.
Powell held him together before popping the ultimate question upon straightening. Though still green and ungainly in his high-knee action, Ruapehu ($11) lengthened up in the last furlong, with newcomer Wimbledon (Manoel Nunes) doing his best work at the finish to finish second three lengths away. Exciting Prospect (Alan Munro) ran third another length away. The winning time was 1min 5.7secs.
If Powell had borne any grudge against Ruapehu, it certainly did not show after such a redeeming win.
“He has improved a lot from his last run. He’s still a bit of a hothead, though, as all Stravinsky’s can be,” said Powell.
“He jumped well from the wide barrier and I got him in an ideal spot throughout. At the top of the straight, he gave a strong kick and was too good for them.
“He will get better with more racing. With more time, he will turn into a nice horse.
“It was nice to get one back on him, anyway! The thumb still hurts a little, but it's getting better.”
Laxon praised Powell’s cool ride and said his expert hands went a long way in “harnessing” that bundle of energy under him.
“JP gave him a good ride. He can get a bit stirred up, but it’s all about harnessing that talent under him,” said the veteran handler.
“My son Roger owns 60% of this horse and I own the rest. I called him before the race and he told me he was at Roland Garros filming Rafael Nadal warming up before his semi-final match!
“I’m sure he’ll be pleased his horse won!”
