New Zealand-bred mare Ruthless Dame is on song for Saturday’s A$10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill according to trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace.
The daughter of Tavistock was runner-up in the A$2 million The Invitation (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday, giving her connections confidence to back her up this weekend in the rich feature.
“We took her to the beach on Sunday morning and she trotted up nice and free. She is a good doer and has licked the bin. I do think she has the constitution to do it,” Eustace told RacingHQ.
Ruthless Dame has drawn barrier 20 on Saturday, but Eustace isn’t overly perturbed by the wide draw.
“It is not a complete disaster given her pattern,” he said. “She likes room to build into a race. If we drew there at Randwick we wouldn’t be concerned at all, but it does make it hard at Rosehill.
“We have just got to hope that they go quick and we will be in the second-half, three-wide, eyeing a bit of cover, and just hope that she is able to work into the race without having to do too much work.”
Ruthless Dame will best tested over 1500m for just the second time on Saturday, having finished 10th in the Gr.1 Coolmore Classic (1500m) last year.
“I do think a mile would be her limit, but she does seem very versatile and her form over six (furlongs, 1200m) is very good,” Eustace said.
“She gets seven (furlongs, 1400m) but Sam (Clipperton, jockey) did feel on the day (last Saturday) that seven was her limit, but we will find out on Saturday.”
Ruthless Dame was bought by Maher out of Curraghmore’s 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft for $90,000.
She has gone on to win three of her 11 starts to date, including the Gr.1 Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) and Gr.3 TBV Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1200m).