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       Rubira vying for four in a row
        
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       # Rubira vying for four in a row
        
       8 May 2024 ,
        
       Punters Info
        
       By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk
        
       Headlined by the unbeaten Rubira, the clash of the two-year-old colts
       and geldings will add a lot of lustre to today's seven race midweek
       meeting at Addington.
        
       The $12,500 NZB National Weanling Sales Mobile Pace (6.37pm) will see
       the Mark and Nathan Purdon-trained star Rubira renew his rivalry with
       Always Dreaming and take on fellow race winners in the Robert and
       Jenna Dunn-trained pairing of Got The Chocolates and Malakai.
        
       It's also a precursor to the Group 1 $110,000 NZ Welcome Stakes at
       Addington on Friday week (May 17).
        
       "He's still learning but he has a great will to win," says Blair
       Orange, who has driven him to victory in all three of his race day
       starts, "and he's winning in different ways."
        
       "In the first one he trailed, then he was three wide and parked and in
       the last one was three wide and then went to the front and stayed
       there."
        
       "He's pretty versatile."
        
       In his last start, the Group 1 Diamond Creek Classic at Invercargill,
       he just held out the Nathan Williamson-trained and driven Always
       Dreaming. He'll be a race rival again and has drawn seven, one place
       inside Rubira.
        
       "The wide draw doesn't make it easy," says Orange, "and we certainly
       don't take any of the others lightly."
        
       "Nathan's one got very close last time and the Dunns' ones have been
       running good races too - you take nothing for granted with the
       babies."
        
       As well as Got The Chocolates (John Dunn) and Malakai (Tim Williams),
       the Dunns will line up Bruntwood Brigade. He is one of three first
       starters - the among two being Sacetas for trainer Tom Bagrie and the
       Darren Keast-trained Bettor Fortune.
        
       As a very handy second stringer to Rubira, the Purdons will also have
       the well performed Party Central in the race.
        
       To be driven by Natalie Rasmussen, he's drawn well at two over the
       1980 metres.
        
       He's placed in both his race day starts and is raced by the same
       ownership group as Rubira's (Mrs G J Kennard, P I Kennard, Breckon
       Racing Syndicate, G A Woodham, Mrs K J Woodham, R Cole, Mrs S A Cole).
        
       Vying for his seventh consecutive driving premiership Orange is the
       leading driver again in 2024, with 70 wins. John Dunn is currently
       second on 57, with Tim Williams on 47.
        
        
        
        
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