 | RACING HISTORY |
YEAR: 1977
FEATURE RACE COMMENT
1977 NZ OAKS
She beat one of the best Oaks fields in recent years by three and a half lengths with something in reserve: She ran the fastest 2600 metres of the night and took more than three seconds of the race record: And under previous handicapping systems she would have become the first filly ever to qualify for the NZ Cup, as the Oaks was her tenth win. This was the achievement which will certainly earn Ruling Lobell the title of top three-year-old of her sex for the season. She has returned a number of outstanding performances at Addington over the past 18 months but the consummate ease of her win in the Oaks in some ways eclipsed them all.
Back on the outer early she moved forward from the 1100m peg to be handy to the leaders. She went to the front soon after the turn and ran away with Blurt Oscar and Hanover Reine sharing the spoils at a respectful distance. There was no dawdling on the journey. The race was cut out in 3:24.1 with the last mile in 2:05 and the last half in 62. One watch had the field going the first mile in 2:03.
Now a c8 pacer, Ruling Lobell has actually won ten races and been eight times placed for stake earnings of $23,050. Denis Nyhan who has driven her in her last three successes said afterwards that he was never really worried except for a slight check at the 1800m. "The field bowled along at a good pace and that suited her," he reported, "she is a top filly this."
None of the other drivers had any real excuses, though it was a strangely run race in some ways with constant lead changes which saw those which were handy early end up out the back at the 800m. Blurt Oscar from Southland ran a magnificent race for second all the same. She lost a lot of ground at the start and at the 900m was still near the back of the field. She mounted a sustained run and her effort to get second was commendable one. Hanover Reine also was a shade slow and was in the open for a while but Sam Ballantyne in his matter-of-fact fashion said she was simply beaten by a better horse on the night.
Ever since she first appeared last season, Ruling Lobell has looked top material, though she has had her lean spells. This season has in some ways been a mixed one for her, for she appeared to lose her dash in the late spring and did not run well in the Derby. She gradually came back but received an unfortunate run in the Queen Elizabeth Cup and was checked at a critical stage in the Three-year-old Championship at Easter following two brilliant wins in February.
Already the holder of a national mark over 2000m it is doubtful if a filly has ever bettered her time in the Oaks. She gave the Grice family their third Oaks win and the second for her durable owner Ben Grice, who knows a thing or two about top juveniles.
A veteran Banks Peninsula mare Egyptian Queen would have taken special pride in the result of the Oaks. She is the dam of Hanover Reine and a daughter, Fallacy Queen is the dam of Blurt Oscar who is a half-sister to Facetious and Lynsallee.
Credit: NZ Trotguide