Kiwi Group Two Winner for Van Nistelrooy
22nd November 2008
Lightly raced mare Ruud Van Slaats (4m Van Nistelrooy x Quintilla, by Danehill) scored the biggest win of her career at Pukekohe in New Zealand on the weekend when she saluted in the Group Two Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes.
The John Sargent trained mare jumped well and crossed to lead, then dominated proceedings before kicking clear in the straight and defying all challengers to defeat Group One winner Imananabaa by a long neck in the 1400 metre feature for mares.
A giant mare with somewhat offset knees, Ruud Van Slaats has been handled patiently and has won four races and placed twice from just nine starts winning $112,987 in prizemoney.
“She hasn’t got the best of legs, and we swim her a lot, “ explained John Sargent.
“We were just trying to get some black-type and we’ve got that now. We have had to take it slowly with her, and she is a huge mare, big and heavy, so it takes awhile to get her fit.”
Bred by the Taylor family of Trelawney Stud, Ruud Van Slaats was retained to race and will be a valuable broodmare when her racing days are done.
“It’s a real thrill to win a race like this. We as breeders strive to win races like this, so it’s a big thrill. She has a big heart, and it was a great ride by Jason (Waddell),” said Brent Taylor.
Ruud Van Slaats is from the Danehill mare Quintilla, a half-sister to stakes-winning sprinter Chester County from the family of international Group One winners Forest Flower and High Yield.
Ruud Van Slaats is the 12th stakes-winner worldwide for young Storm Cat stallion Van Nistelrooy, who shuttled to New Zealand for several seasons and has been represented in America by Group One winner Set Play and recent Group Three winner Nistle’s Crunch..