She’s on the rise

By John Dunne (HRV)

James Herbertson’s early race decision to remain in the running line paid dividends when Shes Ruby Roo scored an upset win in the Aldebaran Park Need For Speed Princess Final at Melton last Friday night.

Having his first drive on the filly, Herbertson refrained from slotting three back along the pegs and instead opted to stay one wide before subsequently landing in the one out-one back trail while the $1.35 favourite Rockinwithattitude speared to the lead.

Herbertson pulled Shes Ruby Roo ($8.50) out three wide with 500 metres to travel and the Jess Tubbs (Myrniong)-prepared daughter of Creatine fought on stoutly in the home straight to grab Rockinwithattitude on the line.

Herbertson said he thought he was a winning chance on turning for home.

“At the top of the straight I thought that I could give it a shake,” he said.

“And then my filly made up a lot of ground in the last 50 metres of the race, it was probably a bit of both the favourite stopping and Shes Ruby Roo getting home.”

Herbertson revealed he almost eased onto the peg line when the opportunity presented itself in the first 50 metres of the race.

“Then I thought I’d give her a chance and stay one off as she had been going well,” he said.

Herbertson predicts a bright future for Shes Ruby Roo.

“She has nice speed, a strong gait and she tries, and I think Greg (Sugars) and Jess (Tubbs) are still learning about her,” he said.