Well-bred 4YO mare RED RUBI extended her winning sequence to three at the Sunshine Coast on Sunday.
The Steve O’Dea and Matt Hoysted-trained galloper started favourite in the 1000m Class 2 Plate for fillies and mares and justified her short quote with a determined victory.
In contrast to her first-up win over the same course and distance three weeks ago, RED RUBI was slow to muster and found herself at the rear of the six-horse field.
With some six lengths still to make up at the 600m marker, the daughter of RUBICK cut the corner under Stephanie Thornton and bravely took a split between horses to salute by 0.2 lengths.
There were some nervous moments in the straight as RED RUBI was inclined to hang in under pressure but once straightened up, she let down strongly and was pulling away from her rivals on the line.
Steve and Matt will ponder a return to metropolitan company for RED RUBI next start as she chases her fourth successive win from just eight career starts.
A bargain $35,000 purchase from the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, RED RUBI is a half-sister to Proven Thoroughbreds’ multiple stakes winner SCALLOPINI.
The latest foal to sell out of the dam was a filly by EXTREME CHOICE which fetched a hefty $420,000 at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale earlier this year.
Sunday’s result marked Proven Thoroughbreds’ 35th winner for the calendar year and 2nd for the 2021-22 season.