Promising Universal Ruler filly En Plein Air kicked off last Thursday’s Northam meeting an easy winner of the Procon Developments Australia Maiden (1000m) for trainers Grant and Alana Williams.
En Plein Air was also the catalyst for a day out in the Avon Valley for Scenic Lodge. Universal Ruler went on to notch a treble with Idyllic Ruler and Mystical Man while Snip Of Gossip weighed in for the stud’s former sire Snippetson.
Sent out a well-backed $2.80 favourite first-up, En Plein Air delivered by the best part of two lengths from Maxine’s Wish (Rogano) and Ocean Outlaw (Shooting To Win). Tracking the speed into the straight, she always had them covered and Willie Pike rode her out hands and heels without having to feel for the persuader.
“How was that for a debut!” Team Williams reported on the Belhus Racing filly who is known as ‘Pie’ at their stables in Karnup. “She’s small but opened her account in style for a huge bunch of owners! And there’s plenty to come from this pocket rocket.”
Bred by Belhus Racing’s Peter Morley, she’s a full-sister to Belmont winner Empress Of India and half-sister to the widely-travelled Star Soprano (Snippetson) who has won five races to date from Albany to Broome for Team Williams, Dan Morton and Steve Wolfe.
Her dam Our Pie ‘O’ My sold for $40,000 as a yearling from Oakland Park at the 2011 Perth Magic Millions and Morley trained her to win a maiden at Toodyay. The family is flying this season with G2 Karrakatta Plate winner Bustling (Frosted) who is from a half-sister to Our Pie ‘O’ My.
Now rising 20, Universal Ruler will stand privately this season after covering 14 commercial books at Scenic Lodge. He has sired 12 individual black-type winners to date and they top career stats of 170 individual winners of 601 races at a 60% strike-rate.
