Scenic Lodge resident Universal Ruler sired his 10th Stakes winner when Rusty Dreams took advantage of a rails run to land the LR Belmont Guineas (1600m) on Saturday.

Rusty Dreams had been runner-up in the LR Raconteur Stakes (1400m) at her previous start and was handled patiently from an outside gate by Chris Parnham.  The 3yo filly burst through a gap along the fence and then went clear to score impressively.

Parnham joined his brothers Brad (Variation in 2017) and Steven (Kay Cee in 2020) on the Belmont Guineas honour-roll with a superb ride.  “She was the best horse in the race and I just got lucky,” Parnham told The West Australian.  “I rode her quietly because she also had the best turn of foot.

“I laid on her neck when we jumped and she relaxed nicely.  She will run a mile and beyond next season and will be suited in races like the Starstruck and La Trice Classics.”

Rusty Dreams (Photo / Western Racepix) completed a hat-trick at Ascot in April and her earnings have now reached $374,820 including Westspeed Bonuses of $160,950 for a partnership managed by her breeder Peter Capararo of Canal Enterprises.

Her older half-brother Rusty Spirit (Trade Fair) won twice at Ascot in March for trainers Cliff Smith & Jo Leeson.  They are the only foals from unraced mare She Done Him Wrong (Oratorio) who descends from G2 Champion Fillies Stakes winner Mercurial Madam (Is It True).

Trainer Michael Lane was confident Rusty Dreams could win the black-type feature.

“We haven’t done much with her since the Raconteur but we knew she was fine for today.  She was headstrong early on and we couldn’t afford to kick her out of the gates because she would probably over-race.”  Lane later confirmed she will progress to the LR Belmont Oaks (2000m) on July 1.

Universal Ruler (Scenic) and former Taunton Vale sire Demerit (Lonhro) head the WA 3YO sires table for individual winners (14) just ahead of Playing God, Maschino and Oratorio all on 13.

He also sired a third 2yo winner this season – following Wiley Girl and Princess Lacillia – when King Cartel was successful in the Free Entry To Belmont Park Hcp (1200m) on Saturday.  Bred by Grant McLearie, he’s out of the Steve Wolfe-trainer winner Miss Somebody (Demerit) who also has a filly foal by Universal Ruler.

Scenic Lodge stands Universal Ruler for $8,250 alongside Dash For Cash at $2,200.  Fees (inc GST).

Breeding:  Universal Ruler – Jean (Volksraad)  2yo filly
Breeder:  Geoff Durrant
Owners:  Adam & Vicki Durrant
Trainer:  Adam Durrant   Jockey: Clint Johnston-Porter
Prizemoney:  $21,300
Westspeed Bonus:  $9,700
EPONA credits:  $1,160, Photo:  Western Racepix

Jeanella is bred to be a winner and she showed a will-to-win on par with her pedigree at Belmont on Wednesday.

The 2yo filly by Scenic Lodge sire Universal Ruler was racing on debut and was always travelling like a winner for trainer Adam Durrant and his mother Vicki.  She settled in the box-seat for Clint Johnston-Porter and let down with a determined finish to run down Bisector (Demerit) in the Amelia Park Maiden (1000m).

Jeanella is a half-sister to five winners including Mr Genoa (Blackfriars) who won 7 races in WA and Victoria including the 2019 Country Championship Final at Ascot.  “It was no surprise to see her do such a good job first-up,” stable foreman Jason Miller conceded.  “Clint rode her well, too.

“She comes from a good family and has a bright future.  They’ve all shown ability although this one is much better behaved.”

Their NZ-bred dam Jean (Volksraad) was a 2yo winner at Awapuni and went on to win another four races in Perth at Belmont (3) and Ascot.  Her most recent cover was to Dash For Cash last October.

“She’s a professional,” Johnston-Porter reported.  “She’s one of the quietest 2yo winners I’ve ridden and felt like a winner in running.”

Universal Ruler (Scenic) also sired Rulelee to win first-up for trainer Sue Olive at Belmont last Saturday.  The 4yo mare had won two in a row at Ascot and Belmont earlier this year for Vaughn Sigley and owner-breeders Glen & Jan Kettlewell.

The Kettlewells and Kim Renner stand G2 MVRC Stutt Stakes winner Leonardo Da Hinchi (Hinchinbrook) with Alan & Sue Olive at Gold Front Thoroughbreds.  Rulelee’s dam Leenornie (Oratorio) foaled a first-crop colt by Leonardo Da Hinchi last August.

Universal Ruler maintained an outstanding yearling sale return at the Perth Magic Millions in February with an average of $81,200.  That was a 12.3 multiplication off his service fee in 2019.

Scenic Lodge stands Universal Ruler for $6,600 alongside Snippetson ($7,700) and Dash For Cash ($2,200) this season.  All fees (inc GST).

Breeding:  Universal Ruler – Hello Paris (Rothesay)  2yo colt
Owner / Breeder:   Elio Galante
Trainer: Grant Williams
Jockey: Pat Carbery
Prizemoney: $42,780    Westspeed Bonus: $16,300
Photo:  Western Racepix

Universal Ruler’s 2yo filly Penny On The Queen has ability to burn and the Scenic Lodge sire followed up with talented 2yo colt Lord Gannicus at Belmont last Wednesday.

Penny On The Queen won an Ascot nursery in February prior to black-type placings behind Amelia’s Jewel in the G3 Gimcrack Stakes and G2 Karrakatta Plate.

Lord Gannicus (2c Universal Ruler – Hello Paris by Rothesay) had been runner-up on debut to Tiffany Street (Street Boss) at Ascot on May 7 which augured nicely for the Crown Perth Maiden (1200m) at the midweek meeting.

Sent out a long odds-on favourite, he was caught without cover but had enough class to prevail by a half-neck over Rockon Molly (Awesome Rock).  “He’s still a prep away but did a really good job today,” trainer Grant Williams said.  “He will furnish into a real good horse so we will either give him one more run or sent him straight to the paddock.”

Winning jockey Pat Carbery is also keen on his prospects next season.  “He jumped better than I expected and I tried to save him for the business end.  He had to dig deep and will appreciate a longer trip than 1200m.”

Lord Gannicus is a homebred for Elio Galante who has raced several winners by Universal Ruler starting with Snow Lord who won 7 races for earnings of $334,300.

Galante and his wife Jacqui have yearling and weanling full-sisters to Lord Gannicus in the pipeline.  Their dam Hello Paris won city races at Belmont (3) and Ascot and second-dam Paris Heartbeat (Marooned) was a Listed winner in Melbourne (Summoned Stakes) and Brisbane (Glenlogan Park Stakes).

Last start Ascot winner No Surrender is poised to claim a third LR WA Breeders’ Classic (1400m) for Scenic Lodge sire Universal Ruler at Bunbury this Sunday.

Darren McAuliffe trains No Surrender and he also prepared Abdicator to win the south-west 3yo feature in 2018.  Pearce Racing filly Angelic Ruler made it a running double for Universal Ruler in 2019.

No Surrender lived up to his name with brave victory in the Glenroy Chaff Hcp (1600m) at Ascot on January 9.  He took advantage of the inside alley and was allowed to dictate in front for Chris Parnham before fighting off a wall of late closers.

At the finish, there was no more than a half-length between the first five home but the margin didn’t matter to the winning connections who banked $76,300 in prizemoney and Westspeed bonuses.

McAuliffe knows Universal Ruler and his stock better than anyone having trained him to three stakes wins in Perth before a successful second career at Scenic Lodge where he has sired Impressive stars like The Velvet King, Rebel King, Market Ruler, Military Reign & Abdicator.

No Surrender is the last foal of Dylan Thomas mare Dark Attack whose half-brother Cohort (Scenic) completed a stakes winning double in the 2008 Belmont Guineas and Belmont Classic.

“He’s above average but has an attitude problem.” McAuliffe said following a prior win at Ascot last year.  “That’s weird because the rest of his family have all been lovely quiet horses.”

Universal Ruler followed up with 4yo winning graduates King Cruzer and Universal Pleasure at Ascot last Saturday.  That crop has suffered through lack of numbers, however, their strike-rate is bubbling along at 63%.

King Cruzer broke through in the Amelia Park Maiden (1500m) for part-owner and trainer Justine Erkelens.  Jockey Shaun O’Donnell set a slow tempo and then stole a winning break on the corner to score by two lengths.

“He like a clumsy boy and is still learning.  He’s nothing like his sister,” Erkelens said.  “He has potential and will come good but is still six months away.”

King Cruzer is a younger half-brother to stablemate Friar Fox (Blackfriars) who has earned over $433,005 off Listed victories the Natasha Stakes and Boulder Cup.  Their dam Pearlesque (Statoblest) has a Snippetson filly catalogued as Lot 41 by Scenic Lodge for the Perth Magic Millions on Monday, February 15.

Erkelens is also on a winner with her Fastnet Rock mare Miss Barley who is the dam of Champion Group 1 sprinter Gytrash.  She missed to Universal Ruler in 2019 but Erkelens is hoping for better luck following a September cover to Nicconi at Widden Stud.

Apprentice Laqdar Ramoly repeated the front-running tactics that worked for King Cruzer when he piloted Universal Pleasure to victory in the TABtouch Platinum Hcp (1100m).  She had won a Bunbury maiden on January 3 and trainer Stephan Vahala was quietly confident the next step was there for the taking on Saturday.

“We’re starting to see results with her now,” he said.  “She’s come back a much stronger mare and isn’t such a finicky eater.  She can switch off in the lead and I told ‘Lucky’ to hold on as long as possible.”

Universal Pleasure is the second foal from Amphlett (Rock Of Gibraltar) who also completed a running double at Bunbury and Ascot for trainer Brent Albuino in 2013.  Her 3yo is an All American gelding named Regent Glory and he’s prepping for a debut with David Hayes in Hong Kong.

Numbers are no longer a problem for Universal Ruler having been the State’s busiest stallion for the last two seasons with a total of 227 mares.  He has a dozen yearlings catalogued for the Perth Magic Millions starting with the filly out of Miss Libia from Scenic Lodge (as agent) catalogued as Lot 26.

Miss Libia (Mull Of Kintyre) has foaled three city winners from three to race and the trio – Kelly’s Callisto, Gracie May & Kelly’s Secret – have won 12 races to date for combined earnings over $400,000.

The decision to switch No Surrender to a shorter trip was a winning one for Impressive Racing trainer Darren McAuliffe on Tuesday.

No Surrender (3g Universal Ruler – Dark Attack by Dylan Thomas) had been run down over 1600m last month but he was never in danger when dropping back in distance for the Mrs Mac’s Maiden (1200m) at Ascot.  He led at every panel and pinched a winning break for Mitchell Pateman who had been positive on the firming $3.80 second-elect.

McAuliffe knows Universal Ruler and his stock better than anyone having trained him to three stakes wins in Perth before a successful second career at Scenic Lodge where he has sired Impressive stars like The Velvet King, Rebel King, Market Ruler, Military Reign & Abdicator.

“He didn’t get a mile last time and was disappointing.  He got on the wrong leg and I thought coming back to 1200m would be a better option,” McAuliffe said.  “He’s above average and should have won a few races by now but he’s got an attitude problem.”

No Surrender had finished fourth on debut to Gemma’s Son (Snippetson) in the LR Perth Stakes in March before fading from view behind from Watch Me Dance (I’m All The Talk) in the G3 WA Sires Produce Stakes.

“He’s a difficult animal to deal with and has got a different mind-set to the rest of his family,” McAuliffe revealed.  “It’s weird because they have all been lovely quiet horses.”

No Surrender is the final foal of Dark Attack (Dylan Thomas) who was bred by Peters Investments.  He won Tuesday’s maiden by three-quarters of a length from the Peters Investments favourite Testing Love (Iffraaj).

Dark Attack retired a maiden but her half-brother Cohort (Scenic) completed a stakes winning double in the 2008 Belmont Guineas and Belmont Classic.  She is also a half-sister to the dams of Dark Choice (G3 WA Oaks) and Churchill Dancer (G2 VRC Bobbie Lewis Hcp).

Universal Ruler stands for a $6,600 service fee at Scenic Lodge with Snippetson ($6,600) and Dash For Cash ($2,750).  (Fees inc GST) with a free return.