Three-Time Karaka Graduate Wins All Victorian Series Final

Ruettiger (NZ) (Duporth), a three-time visitor to the Karaka sale ring, scored the biggest win of his career to date when he took out Saturday’s A$150,000 Listed All Victorian Series Final (1200m) at Flemington.

Racing at black-type level for the first time in his career, the four-year-old Ruettiger produced an irresistible finishing burst along the inside to beat Voodoo Lad by a short neck. He was ridden by Craig Williams for trainers Lee and Anthony Freedman.

“This horse has been racing in really good heart and it’s only now we’ve discovered he’s a really good straight track horse,” Lee Freedman said.

“He went terrific here a week ago and he’s backed it up in the final. I think we need to look at more Listed races for him.”

Bred by Adrian Clark, Ruettiger is out of the Zabeel mare Be Inspired (NZ), from the family of stakes winners such as Rainbow Styling (NZ) (Zabeel), Neverland (Big Brown), Meiner Hourglass (Brian’s Time), Meine Nouvelle (Brian’s Time), Meiner Charles (Brian’s Time), Nothing But Silk (Belong To Me) and Zingaling (Redoute’s Choice).

Ruettiger’s first visit to Karaka was as a weanling at the 2012 National Weanling, Broodmare & Mixed Bloodstock Sale. Offered by Curraghmore, he was purchased by Lyndhurst Farm for $105,000.

He was later sold by Lyndhurst at NZB’s Ready to Run Sale for $150,000.

Ruettiger has now had 15 starts for five wins, six placings and A$192,650 in prize-money for owners L C Wellington, Miss A A Wellington and A Locantro and Lakeview Resources.