News Article

Braun pulls right rein with Rule Like A King

10 / 04 / 2015 Article by: TR Internal
Rule LIke A King (Rohan Hillier) easily wins ther Easter Cup at Mowbray last night icon Click to enlarge

Victorian trainer Dean Braun pulled the right rein when he transferred Rule Like A King to Rohan Hillier for the 2015 Lees Orchard Easter Cup heats and final. The 5YO gelding was returning from a 17 month injury enforced break and Braun knew the capabilities of Rule Like A King when he targeted the $40,000 Lees Orchard Easter Cup for the ex New Zealander.

Rohan Hillier did his part by training and driving Rule Like A King to almost identical heat and final wins where he worked to the lead in the early part of each race before dictating from the front with sectionals that were simply too quick for the opposition. In the heat, Rule Like A King ran the last quarter in 27.8 seconds and he upped the tempo in the final with the last mile in 1:58.0. Rule Like A King won the final by 22 metres from The Majority (Ricky Duggan) and Outrageous El (Gavin Lang). With a career record of 30 – 12 – 4 – 5, including 10 wins from his last 13 starts, Rule Like A King is likely to be aimed at mainland feature races.

Nathan Ford missed out with Star Chamber in the Easter Cup but trained a double with Highview Christina and Supersub. Highview Christina (Dylan Ford) is a 4YO ex New Zealander who has been consistent recently with two wins and a placing from her last four starts. She led and dictated terms to suit with a 59 seconds last half to defeat Wipethesmile (Matthew Howlett) and Imunstoppable (Keith Toulmin).

Supersub was rewarded for his consistency when he took full advantage of the concession claim for Taylor Ford to win the Neil Pitt’s Pace. The 6YO gelding won at Hobart on 1 February 2015 and five seconds followed leading up to the Sunday night win over Rampling (Kate MacLeod) and Karalta Dazzler (Wade Rattray).

Brighton trainer driver Christian Salter finished with a double courtesy of Dancing Da Vinci and Vande Velde. Dancing Da Vinci won first up in Tasmania for Salter at Hobart on 23 November 2014 and recorded five placings from his next seven starts. Along the way, the 3YO gelding has chased home some good ones including Mojo Major (twice) and Jerrys Jet. The cards fell his way on Sunday night with a pole draw and Salter did the rest with a pedestrian 65.3 first half before reeling off 29.4 and 28.7 quarters to defeat Fuscienne (Todd Rattray) by seven metres with Blackjackhanover (Gareth Rattray) third.

Vande Velde arrived with a well timed sprint to prevail in the $10,000 Bridport Hotel North Eastern Pacing Cup. The 4YO gelding defeated fellow 4YO’s Something Eyre (Ricky Duggan) and Resurgent Sprit (James Austin) in a blanket finish. All three had to produce their best to defeat the free wheeling Sky Tower (fourth Dylan Ford) who set a solid tempo over the 2698 metres. Vande Velde was an eye catching third in the 2650 metres Carrick Cup in late January and the win on Sunday night over a similar distance may prove to be an ideal lead up to the Raider Stakes series at Devonport with the $30,000 final over 2665 metres scheduled for 26 April 2015.

Paul Hill continued his hot run with 2YO’s when Hillview Jake led throughout for the Old Beach trainer to win the $10,000 Island Block And Paving Golden Slipper. With master reinsman Gavin Lang in the sulky, Hillview Jake speared to the early lead and dictated terms before reaching the line 4.5 metres clear of Soho Shanghai (Rohan Hillier) with Kwiatkowski (Christian Salter) third. Hillview Jake returned a handy mile rate of 2:00.1 for 1680 metres and the Cardmaster Hanover gelding is now likely to be set for the $20,000 Sweepstakes in Hobart in May.