By Jonny Turner
John McDermott would love a stable full of Ruby’s A Delights.
The veteran mare made it career win number eight in her 101st start at Addington on Sunday.
McDermott describes his six-year-old as a great trying pacer who gives it her all every time she steps out on to the track.
That was evident in her win on Sunday as Ruby’s A Delight kept winding up in the home straight to fight off a wave of attackers for driver Ricky May.
“She is just one of those horses you would love to have a stable full of them,” McDermott said.
“She doesn’t win all of the time, but she has got a bit of ability and she tries her best every time she goes out there.”
McDermott gave Ruby’s A Delight a freshener in May and she has clearly returned in grand style.
Her victory came after a gritty fourth which brought on her fitness for Sunday’s victory.
“She had a wee freshener which she was well overdue for,” McDermott said.
“Then she had a run without a trial and she went really well, after making a bit of a blue at the start.”
“I was hoping Ricky would go forward today, we might have been a bit lucky when one of the horses drawn inside us was a late scratching because of the weather.”
“But I thought it was quite a meritorious win.”
Ruby’s A Delight’s victory took John McDermott to a career high for wins in a season.
Jordy has been a major contributor to his with three wins on a recent trip to Southland.
McDermott had the pacer stationed with Tyler Dewe, with his campaign culminating in a Winter Rewards Final victory.
“Jordy was very satisfying but Tyler deserves a lot of the credit.”
“We had a plan, he had seven starts for three wins and a second and he managed to win the big one at the end.”
“He came home over the next couple of days after the race.”
“Because he has been so busy he has had a bit of time off and he will come back in on the first of August.”
While he is happy to be winning more races than in any season before, McDermott isn’t getting ahead of himself.
“You never get too far ahead of yourself in this game.”
“I have got another couple of nice horses coming up and hopefully they can do a good job.”
“Flyaway is coming up, she is a very nice mare – she’s a half to Jordy.”
“Topaz will probably end up going back to Geoff and James Dunn, she’s a half to Ruby’s A Delight.”
McDermott sits on eight wins so far in 2023.
And what a day it was for Southland trainer Chelsea Faithful. She went two from two at Addington.
Paying $13, Tartan Raider and Sam Ottley provided her with her first Addington winner, and then Arnies Army, driven by Blair Orange, delivered in race 8 as well – both horses heading to Christchurch with no racing down south until later next month.
