Dignity Dancer won six races, including the G1 Australian Guineas and the G1 Spring Champion S. and was successful at Group 2 level in the Alister Clark S. and the Autumn Classic.
While Rubisaki (Rubick) has yet to step out in Group 1 company, the Patrick Payne-trained filly has made rapid progress and will shoot for her sixth consecutive win when she runs in Saturday’s G3 James HB Carr S. at Randwick.
She has enjoyed a perfect campaign to date and includes victory in the $1 million Inglis Sprint at Warwick Farm in February followed by wins in the G2 Kewney S. at Flemington and last time out in the G3 PJ Bell S. at Randwick.
“I never thought I’d have another horse as good as Dignity Dancer, but this filly is tracking in the right direction,” O’Neill said.
“She’s a really high-class filly and she does things other horses can’t do. She’s been in trouble every run this preparation at some stage in the run and she just gets herself out of trouble, she’s got such an incredible turn of foot.”
“She’s a really high-class filly and she does things other horses can’t do.” – Joe O’Neill
A seven-time winner from nine starts with two runner-up finishes, Rubisaki was also nominated for Saturday’s G1 All Aged S., but will bypass the opportunity in favour of the age group race.
“I spoke to Patrick early on Monday morning and said why don’t we throw in a nom for the All Aged, which quite often comes up a bit weak. I knew horses like Loving Gaby and Mystic Journey and that type of horse weren’t going to be there,” O’Neill said.
“We wanted to have a look and nom her if it came up not as strong as expected. Once we looked at them we’ll continue with what we’re doing.
Joe O’Neill with daughter Katey O’Neill
“She’s still a bit immature and running her against her own group gives her a better chance of another win and be undefeated for the season as a 3-year-old.”
Following Saturday’s outing, Rubisaki will enjoy a decent spell in New South Wales before returning home to prepare for the spring.
“She will go to Yarraman Park Stud for a spell for six weeks and then we’ll bring her back. She’ll have a couple of runs in Melbourne leading into the Golden Eagle,” O’Neill said.
“She’ll have a couple of runs in Melbourne leading into the Golden Eagle.” - Joe O’Neill
“She can accelerate on top of the ground quicker. It’s been bizarre to think it’s been the worst drought we’ve ever seen up until a month or six weeks ago and now we’ve got all these wet tracks. She’s much better on top of the ground.”
O’Neill bought Rubisaki out of Edinburgh Park’s Inglis Classic Yearling Sale draft for $85,000 with prior knowledge of the family. He had bought younger half-sister Zizzis (Sizzling) at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale the previous year for $120,000 and she was showing early promise.
They are daughters of Senro Kisaki (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), who won two races, and her first foal to race was Victory Marvel (I Am Invincible) who was successful five times in Hong Kong.
Rubisaki as a yearling
“While all this was happening, Ben Lawrence who worked at Patinack Farm said to me things were getting a bit tight and we’ve got a few Hussons for sale that we’d be happy to sell as weanlings,” O’Neill said.
“I flew up from Melbourne to the Hunter Valley to have a look and I bought Husson’s Kiss, who was a half-sister to Rubisaki. I bought her for my Tasmanian trainer Charlie Goggin and she ran third in the 1000 Guineas and then got cast in her box and we had to retire her.
“I went to the sales that year at the Gold Coast and I was keen on Sizzling as a sire and there was a filly there who was a half-sister to Husson’s Kiss. I bought her for $120,000, which was a lot of money for a first-season sire for us.
“I bought her for $120,000, which was a lot of money for a first-season sire for us.” – Joe O’Neill
“Her name was Zizzis and she went on to win the Magic Millions in Adelaide and on Caulfield Cup day. She’s back in work with Patrick now.
“We had a bit of a leg-up, but they’ve still got to do it and we’ve looked after Rubisaki.”
Rubisaki's half-brother by Sizzling
O’Neill subsequently bought a half-brother to Rubisaki by Sizzling for $100,000 at the Gold Coast earlier this year, who has been broken in and will be trained by Payne. He also bought Husson’s Kiss’ first foal by Wordsmith for $40,000 at the Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale.
“There’s only about six horses in the family in Australia and I’ve got three of the fillies, plus the colt and the colt out of Husson’s Kiss. It’s not a big family, but they’re good horses,” O’Neill said.
