It was Water Lou last year and now it will be Ruby Lou driver Shannon Suvaljko pins his hopes of winning this year’s Westral-Diamond Classic (2130m) at Gloucester Park tomorrow night.
Unlike Water Lou, Ruby Lou enters the race without the weight of expectation of being the the favourite dominant three-year-old filly of her group.
That tag belongs to Ruby Lovera, who’s set to start favourite in barrier two, and Westbred Classic winner Reinette.
Ruby Lou has been a model of consistency in her three-year-old campaign thus far, with last week’s eighth placing behind Oceanfront the only time she’s missed a top four position in 10 starts.
Suvaljko said Ruby Lou was slowly developing into a more complete package.
“She’s definitely got stronger,” Suvaljko told TABradio.
“She was a short distance horse with good gate speed.
“She’s definitely matured and she’s working with the better ones now.”
Suvaljko said he wasn’t concerned by Ruby Lou’s performance last week going into tomorrow night.
“It was an awkward race,” he said.
“We had to go forward early, but with Belly’s horse (Wicked Lover) kicking up underneath us we would’ve been trapped wide.
“We had to go back, and they dawdled around.”
Ruby Lovera is a commanding $1.50 TABtouch favourite for the Diamond Classic, with Gary Hall Jnr set to drive the Justin Prentice-trained filly.
Reinette is on the second line of betting at $5.
The Mike Reed-trained Ruby Lou, rated a $15 chance, has drawn barrier 11 on the back of Ruby Lovera and Suvaljko said it could prove to be a tricky draw.
“We’d rather have a front-line draw,” he said.
“It’s not a bad draw in 11.
“It’s disappointing a little bit, but she can still win from back in the field.
“We probably have to get as close as we can and then assess the race.
“She will run a good race.”
Suvaljko also teams up with Reed with strong chances Lion Queen, Blitzembye and Bettors Pride throughout the Gloucester Park card.
Tim Walker
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