Ballymore Primed for Boxing Day

Ballymore duo Ruby Armani (pictured) and Soul Sista are right on target to contest their respective events at Ellerslie on Saturday in one of New Zealand’s most iconic meetings of the year!

Ruby Armani has shown she can be competitive against some of the country’s top three-year-olds and looks well placed to be competitive in what is to scorching hot Gr.2 Eight Carat Classic field.

“She’s a progressive filly that has yet to put a bad run in, against good company each start, and I don’t Saturday will be any different,” co-trainer Chad Ormsby said.

“Drawing barrier one is a big help and the track is likely to be good – both key factors that will only assist her – and you need those things to fall in your favour if you are to be competitive in fields of this quality.”

The daughter of promising young sire Makfi has certainly showed she is well above average in her several career starts to date and she will be partnered by senior jockey Michael Coleman.

The second runner on the card is the inform mare Soul Sista who lines up in the $50,000 Rating 65 event over 1600m and her last effort at Ellerslie would have undoubtedly made every punters black book in the country.

Her tardy beginnings have obviously been an issue, although she is continuing improve and she only needs to jump with the field to be a serious live winning chance.

“She’s flying and you could easily argue that she should have won her last two starts if her luck went the other way,” Ormsby said.

“The good track and barrier draw all play into favour and if she can jump and put herself in the race, she only needs an ounce of luck to be a strong winning chance.”