Dictator (formally Tycoon Woods) collecting another win for Qld’s emerging sire Tycoon Ruler (Singapore Turf Club photo)
Tycoon Ruler certainly made his mark on June 11 and 12, when he presented eight runners in less than 24 hours for four winners and four placegetters from Singapore to the Gold Coast to Clifford Park in Toowoomba.
Formally known as Tycoon Woods, Dictator started Tycoon Ruler’s winning way when he saluted for a four and a half length victory in Singapore at 11pm EST Friday on his return from a three month spell.
Jumping from barrier one, the three-year-old Tycoon Ruler gelding ruled the race leading from start to finish over the 1100 meter journey in the $65,000 Novice Stakes.
Australia expat and owner Donna Lansdown purchased Dictator after he won his trial as a two-year-old from owners Bob and Maree Frappell.
Dictator ‘wiped the floor with them’ when he won on debut by over 10 lengths two starts back.
His last start was shy of the win, finishing as runners-up.
“He had a pretty hard run first-up and was still a little immature,” trainer John Meagher said after the win.
“He then bumped into a pretty smart horse at his second start.
“We thought it best to send him off for a break and get over those early rigours.
“He looks like he’s has come back in good form. He looks a pretty smart Polytrack horse and we’ll just keep him going,” John ended.
A son of Tycoon Ruler from the Irgun mare Bella Fuse, Dictator has now won connections around $80,000 in prizemoney for his two wins and a second in just three starts.
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Just shy of 14 hours later, two-year-old debut runner Jopa (G2 Tycoon Ruler-Safety Pins) scorched the 11-horse field with a one and a half length win from barrier 11.
With Joe Bowditch in the saddle, the Tycoon Ruler juvenile oozed class and untapped potential as he bounded home for a magnificent win for first time owners Paul and Jodi Stevens of Cairns.
Jopa, named after Jodi & Paul, is the first racehorse for the North Queensland owners. The Stevens flew down to Brisbane with the children at toe to cheer for their ‘son’ Bobby at his first raceday.
Little did they know they would be making their first appearance in the winner’s circle.
“Getting married and having kids is pretty exciting,” owner Paul Stevens said after the win, “but having a winner, that excitement is well up there with them.”
“The feeling was sensational, we have been on cloud 9 all week,” Paul said.
Brisbane trainer Jan Pritchard selected the Tycoon Ruler two-year-old out of a paddock at Clear Mountain Fairview for the owners.
The ‘Apache Cat’ like markings and evident style was an instant winner for Pritchard and the Stevens as they viewed the photos from their Cairns home.
And the Steven’s story of their first racehorse will only develop as their ‘Bobby’ prepares for his next race start.
Clifford Park housed the remaining two winners with New South Wales-trained filly Rain Bay and local galloper Tycoon Cat returning to the winner’s circle.
Rain Bay (F3 Tycoon Ruler-Carmen) travelled from south of the border to give her string of connections their third career win.
Jumping from barrier six in the 10 horse field, Rain Bay sat at the tail of the field to fly home for a narrow victory with local hoop Skye Bogenhuber in the saddle.
Rain Bay was not liked by the bookies, paying a whopping $17 for the win.
A couple of races later, Clear Mountain Fairview’s Tycoon Cat led from jump to winning post for his second consecutive QTIS 600 career win.
With local jockey Philip Wolfgram in the saddle, Tycoon Cat was given an ideal run over the 1050 meter journey.
The remaining four runners that rounded out the placings were Ty Seeker, second at the Gold Coast, Handbag, Tycoon Is In and Tycoon Treasure at the Gold Coast and Clifford Park respectively in the third placing.
Eight collects from eight runners, just another typical Tycoon Ruler weekend of racing!