FNQ filly on track for QTIS Jewel Race day

Photo credit: Mike Mills

By Jordan Gerrans

Aquis Park’s QTIS Jewel Race day is still a month away but the contenders from the north of the state are already starting to emerge.

Northern cities such as Mackay, Townsville, Cairns and Rockhampton will all run qualifiers for the rich Jewel day on the Gold Coast before the end of the month, with two for the three-year-olds and two for the two-year-olds.

If an “insane” debut effort earlier this month at Townsville is any guide, filly Ruby July is going to very hard to hold out at Cairns’ Cannon Park in the three-year-old qualifier.

Trained in Tolga by Sharlee D’Avila, Ruby July put on an absolute show on debut, bolting in by seven lengths in an impressive time of 55.72 seconds.

According to the Townsville Turf Club, Ruby July’s amazing display was one of the fastest times over the 1000m in the past 20 years as well as being one of the quickest maiden win times ever recorded at Cluden Park.

The Cairns qualifier on Tuesday February 23 is the next step for the daughter of Bel Esprit.

“We will look at the QTIS Jewel qualifier in Cairns over the 1250m, that is the aim and if she wins, then we will need to make the decision to send her down or not to Brisbane,” D’Avila said.

“Look at what she did at Townsville, far out – that was just insane to run the fastest time in 20 years as a first-starter.

“Her trial at Atherton was a special time, as well, I think it may have broken the Atherton track record in an unofficial trial.

“She has improved from that, we were thinking 'wow, this is incredible'.”

Ruby July is owned and bred by Atherton Tablelands businessman Michael Lee.

Lee has trained in his own right over the years, including having the smart sprinter Platinum Tycoon, among others, but has focussed on his business interests over the last 18 months.

That is how D’Avila, one of the leading trainers in north Queensland, received the impressive filly.

She had a preparation in the south-east of the state with Paul Butterworth and was ridden by Larry Cassidy (pictured) in unofficial trials.

Lee was told early on that Ruby July would be too fast for north Queensland racing, but the FNQ-based trainer was keen to get him back to his own area.

With Lee still focusing on his business interests, D’Avila pestered her close mate enough about eventually bringing the unraced filly into her stable and he eventually gave it the tick of approval.

“I kept saying to Michael 'that filly you have got there, I like her',” D’Avila said with a laugh.

“He ummed and ahh’d about it, but eventually the horse landed in my barn and I was pretty excited when I saw her there.

“I thought we had something special there and that first race showed us that.”

As part of the original deal, D’Avila was to pre-train Ruby July, trial her and give her the first start before being transferred back to Lee’s name.

Going forward, the QTIS Jewel three-year-old hopeful will be raced by Lee in his yellow and red colours.

D’Avila is still likely to ride the bay in work until the impressive youngster eventually makes her way to Brisbane.

“We knew how special this horse is,” she said.

“I get goosebumps even talking about it now and got very emotional after he first win.

“Even though she has only had one start, she is as mature and has more ability than anything I have had in my barn.”

Respected north Queensland jockey Frank Edwards picked up the ride on Ruby July on debut and rated the win as “special”.

“She’s the best filly I’ve ridden since Cairns Version and I won six from six on her for Ralph Baker,” Edwards said.

“I was actually pretty lucky to get the ride. Sharlee rang me to ride the filly in a trial after the last at Atherton.

“I only had one race ride, so it was a good thing I decided to stick around all day. “

Before her debut last Friday at Townsville, D’Avila told Edwards he would win the QTIS Three-Year-Old Maiden Handicap (1000m) by six lengths.

Edwards was quick to fire back post-race that she was wrong, and the actual winning margin was seven lengths, which could have been more if the experienced hoop wanted too.

The first NQ Jewel qualifier will be run at Mackay next Saturday ahead of the big day on the Gold Coast next month, which is headlined by the $500,000 QTIS Jewel 2YO and 3YO races, as well as the Listed ATC Trophy.