Prime Ruler building into 2023 campaign

By Glenn Davis

Trainer Fred Wieland has warned punters a beefed up Prime Ruler is still short of his peak fitness as the gelding builds towards his northern winter carnival campaign at Townsville on Tuesday.

Prime Ruler – a Jason Taylor mount – has drawn barrier eight in his second start this campaign in the Open Handicap over 1200 metres.

Stable mate El Of A Saga is also entered for the event and will jump from barrier three.

A rising six-year-old, Prime Ruler has won nine of his 15 starts – all for Wieland – since owner Tom Hedley purchased him from Sydney trainer Matthew Smith as an unraced three-year-old.

Hedley also shares in the ownerships of Tuesday rivals Full Recognition from the Stephen Massingham stable and Roy Chillemi’s Go Getaboy.

Prime Ruler was rated one of the Far North’s best sprinters after recording eight wins from nine starts last season.

However, Wieland missed last year’s winter carnival with Prime Ruler who was given a lengthy spell after winning a 950 metre Open Handicap at Cairns on September 9.

The son of Walking Or Dancing made his return from a summer break last month when he beat only one runner home behind the Michael Lee-trained Ruby July in a 1000 metre race at Townsville on June 15.

“There were no problems with him when we spelled him last year,” Wieland said.

“We just decided to give him a long break with this year’s winter carnival in mind.

“He needed the run when he ran at Townsville first-up and I fear he might still need another run.

“He’s still a little bit on the fat side.”

Wieland is likely to target the Cairns carnival with Prime Ruler but hasn’t ruled out a shot at the $100,000 Cleveland Bay Handicap over 1300 metres at Cluden Park. 

“It depends how he’s going at the time,” Wieland said.

“If he gets into the Cleveland Bay we may have a shot at it but he’ll definitely aim for the Cairns Lightning and Amateur Sprint.”

Wieland has never won the Cleveland Bay but has won a Cairns Cup. 

Now in his mid-60s, Wieland has been training full time for 23 years and has been around horses for half a century.

“I was only young when I helped my father around the stables and I’ve been training full time for around 23 years,” he said.

“I was a truck driver and I did some farrier work before I started training.”

Wieland said El Of Saga, who is coming off a last start sixth to Full Recognition in a 1250 metre race at Cairns on June 12, was close to retirement.