If not for the superstition of Gooree Stud boss Eduardo Cojuangco, promising stayer Ruling Dynasty might have been lost to Australian racing.
Trainer James Cummings confirmed the owner knocked back several significant overseas offers to buy the four-year-old as a potential Hong Kong Derby horse.
Cojuangco entertained the idea of selling but when the transaction was not completed before the horse kicked off his spring preparations, he took it as a sign Ruling Dynasty should stay put.
“My grandfather-in-law took it as an omen and he said if it can’t happen within a certain time frame it’s not going to happen. And it didn’t,” Cummings said.
“The offers have still kept coming in but at this point he’s very happy he took the gamble.
“They have a Hong Kong Derby for four-year-olds so they’ll pay millions for horses like him.”
Ruling Dynasty will take his place in Saturday’s Craven Plate (2000m) at Randwick, his first weight-for-age test.
Cummings concedes the horse faces a tough task against more seasoned rivals and is hoping he can finish in the top five to confirm plans to tackle the City Tattersall’s Club Cup (2400m) under handicap conditions two weeks later.
Jockey Tommy Berry believes Ruling Dynasty has the potential to develop into a Caulfield and Melbourne Cup horse next year.
“He’s an exciting stayer that hopefully could be a Cups horse next year for James,” Berry said.
“If he is going to be a Cups horse next year he’s got to keep going in the same direction he’s going and if he doesn’t run well on Saturday I’ll be disappointed.”
