Ruato Bay is heading back to Menangle following his win in a Menangle Country Series heat at Young on Friday.
Driver Mal Diebert
The Terry Coelli-trained gelding was pushed hard to find the early lead by reinsman Mal Diebert before maintaining that position for the 1720-metre journey.
He stormed away from his rivals to defeat Long Shot Summer by 7.6 metres.
After finishing last in an earlier heat of the series at Eugowra, Ruato Bay will return to Menangle for a third consecutive final.
He finished four in last month’s final, the same placing as the final in August.
Mandalay Rose ended her three-race winning streak after breaking in the horse corner in the first of the Country Series heats.
Kenneth Rue’s Zirconia won the C1 heat.
