Wodonga mare Ruby Skye will head to the Albury carnival full of confidence after victory in the Tom Patton Cup at Wagga on Friday.
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Ruby Skye ($3.00) broke through for her first win in more than 12 months by taking out the $27,000 Tom Patton Cup (1800m) at Murrumbidgee Turf Club.
The six-year-old mare threw Blaike McDougalll from the saddle upon leaving the mounting yard but was quickly captured.
After passing a vet's inspection, Ruby Skye took her place in the field and it proved worthwhile as she proved her class with a comfortable victory.
Wodonga trainer Craig Widdison explained that her pre-race behaviour was not completely out of character but was pleased to see her get on with the job afterwards.
"She's been going great all prep without winning a race," Widdison said.
"She's been unlucky and had a couple of close seconds, which hurt, so she deserved that.
"Blaike rode her like the best horse in the race and she'd had enough on the line but she'd made a long run. She's tough and honest."
It was Ruby Skye's fifth career win and her fourth at Wagga. She ran a close second at Flemington earlier this preparation and is now most likely headed towards the $200,000 Albury Gold Cup (2000m).
"She probably goes to the Albury Cup, or the Mile," Widdison said.
Tumut Cup winner Great Glen ($21.00) closed gamely for second place, while the Hayes-Dabernig runner, Muswellbrook ($3.40) battled on for third.
Meantime, Wagga sprinter Bulala ($8.00) returned from a long lay-off in impressive fashion with a devastating first-up victory on Friday.
Bulala has spent 12 months off the scene but returned with a dominant win in the Wagga Whirlwind (1000m) for trainer Peter Morgan and jockey Mathew Cahill.
Bulala had not stepped out under race conditions since running 12th behind Bennelong Dancer in last year's SDRA Country Championships Qualifier (1400m).
He had a nice trial at Wagga on February 13, that appeared to tune him up nicely for another first-up win.
Morgan said Bulala would now look towards the $75,000 City Handicap (1175m) at Albury on March 19.
"His owner is a committeeman at Albury and would dearly love to go to the City Handicap, so we'll probably go there," Morgan said.
Bulala is raced by Geoff Miller and he took his record to six wins from 15 starts after Friday's success. It was also his fifth win first-up from six attempts.
The two $5000 Magic Millions vouchers went the way of Wangaratta trainer Craig Weeding and Gary Colvin.
Wedding's two-year-old Big Day Out ($3.80) won the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale Maiden Plate (1200m), while the Colvin-trained Superoo ($5.50) won the Magic Millions Gold Coast March Yearling Sale Benchmark 58 Handicap (1200m).
Wagga trainer Trevor Sutherland also enjoyed success, via a protest from Tyler Schiller, with Demanding Mo ($3.20).
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