Red Ruler (5 B. G. Viking Ruler – Ransom Bay, by Red Ransom) was heavily backed to win the $125,000, Group II, Stella Artois City Of Auckland Cup (2400m) at Ellerslie on January 1 after finishing second in the group one Zabeel Classic at Ellerslie on Boxing Day.

Under weight-for-age conditions five days earlier, the John Sargent trained million dollar earner had finished second to Vosne Romanee , but with a drop in weight from fifty-nine kilograms to fifty-four, punters saw dollar signs and waded in to make Red Ruler a dominant $3.00 & $1.60 favourite.

Aided by a copybook ride from an awkward barrier by Mark Du Plessis, Red Ruler never caused reason for alarm, winning by one and a half lengths for owners Ron Arculli, Andrew Meehan and Guy Sargent.

Armed with the best horse in the race, Du Plessis went forward in positive fashion from barrier fourteen to be outside the leader at the post with a lap to run, before slotting into trail entering the back straight.

He ambled up to arrest the lead at the 300 metres, surged to a two length advantage when asked to extend and was punched out under hands and heels riding to score emphatically.

Fazza, for Jeff Lynds, also the trainer of Vosne Romanee, finished second, a long neck ahead of Manonamission, another prepared at the Awapuni training centre, by Lisa Latta.

The 2400 metres was run at genuine work, clocking 2:27.22, last 600 metres 36.76.

Sargent had given Du Plessis clear instructions that were upheld to perfection, as he told Trackside.  “It was a lovely ride. I said, go forward, be positive, you’re on the best horse, and we were well weighted, five kilos between weight-for-age and it worked out perfectly.”

Although only the winner of five races Red Ruler took his earnings to $1.1 million.

Commencing racing as a three-year-old, he won four of his first starts, but it had been almost two years since he last tasted success.

In the interim he was narrowly beaten by Nom Du Jeu in the AJC Derby at Randwick, finished second to Princess Coup in a Kelt Capital Stakes and earned prize money in group one and two staying races in Australia.

Following solid lead up form to the Caulfield Cup last year, Red Ruler disappointed when finishing last behind Viewed and according to Sargent had nearly collapsed in the birdcage afterwards.

Sargent said it took him an hour to come right after the race and that the possible reason for his sub standard performance and subsequent condition could have involved the swallowing of a clod during the running.

Earlier in the day, Sargent had gained his five hundredth training success, when Dawn Ghost rocketed home to score at Hastings.

Coincidentally, Andrew Meehan provided Sargent his first training success with The Spoofer, a horse he shared in ownership, when he won at Foxton in 1988.

Meehan said got to know Ron Aculli, a former Chairman of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, when he spent four year working in Hong Kong, while Guy Sargent is the Chairman of New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing.

Unsure as to whether Red Ruler may tackle the Wellington Cup at Trentham or Whakanui Stud International Stakes at Te Rapa, Sargent suggested a planned trip to Hong Kong for the Queen Elizabeth II Cup on April 25 was a distinct possibility.