A favourable blood count has provided trainer John Zielke with the confidence to test Ruby Red Heart’s winter carnival credentials at Doomben on Saturday.
Ruby Red Heart landed a hefty plunge on debut over 1200 metres at Doomben a fortnight ago and will step up in distance to 1350 metres in the QTIS Two-Year-Old Handicap.
Zielke held off declaring the daughter of Show A Heart a definite starter until her blood count results were known.
“Her blood count was good and I’m satisfied she’s ready to run again,” Zielke said.
“In fact, I think her blood is a lot better now than before she won on debut.
“She’s recovered well after her win and she continues to work strongly.”
Zielke has a huge opinion of Ruby Red Heart who is likely to start off her Brisbane winter campaign in the Group 2 Champagne Stakes (1200m) at Doomben in May.
She will then proceed to the Group 2 Sires’ Produce Stakes and possibly the Group 1 J J Atkins (1600m) later in the carnival.
“She’ll definitely go for a short break at Warwick after this run,” Zielke said.
“I’ll have a look at her while she’s in the paddock and make a decision whether she will need a run before the Champagne or we go straight into it first-up.”
Zielke is delighted with the filly’s barrier two and will let jockey Luke Dittman decide tactics.
“She can lead or take a sit as she’s shown in her trials and jump-outs but I’ll let Luke sum it up and decide what to do,” he said.
“Looking at the pedigrees I think a lot of these may struggle at the distance and Ben Currie’s horse, Ilovevegas, looks the one to beat.”
The former north Queensland trainer also will saddle up Dreams Aplenty in the Class Three Plate (1200m).
Dreams Aplenty was runner-up in the Group 2 Sires Produce Stakes last winter but hasn’t raced since beating one home in the Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1200m) at Flemington in September.
The three-year-old has had several jumpouts and has been heavily backed in early markets.
“He’s been backed from $6.50 into $2.60 already but it’s not our money,” Zielke said.
Zielke is hoping Dreams Aplenty can get his ratings up to gain a start in the Listed Weetwood Handicap (1200m) on his home track on April 8 ahead of a possible Stradbroke Handicap campaign.
– Racing Queensland
