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Lee looks to the city with Ruby July

3 minute read

Atherton trainer Michael Lee has enjoyed considerable success with his top broodmare Platinum Ruby and now hopes of one of her progeny can take him to Brisbane again.

Michael Lee has bred all of Platinum Ruby's progeny including talented mare Ruby July and highly-rated stable mate Yes Dream, a nine time winner in 18 starts.

Ruby July will be chasing her 10th win in 23 starts when she steps out in the Country Stampede qualifier on her home track at Atherton on Saturday.

Lee is weighing up whether her future will be in Brisbane.

If Ruby July wins the qualifier, she won't be targeting the $105,000 Country Stampede Final at Doomben in December.

"She won at Eagle Farm last year which makes her ineligible as only horses who haven't won a metropolitan race in the last two years are eligible," Lee said.

"But, she'll probably end up in Brisbane anyway."

Lee was delighted with Ruby July's last start win at Innisfail last month.

"Her last win at Innisfail was very easy and she's going great and is ticking over well," he said.

Lee trains a small team of four horses at Atherton but strangely hasn't had any big offers to sell Ruby July who looks to have a great future as a broodmare.

Ruby July has had two stints in South East Queensland, firstly with trainer Gary "Jack" Duncan at the Sunshine Coast before Chris Meagher, her likely trainer in Brisbane if she returns.

She won a 1000 metre Benchmark race for Duncan at Eagle Farm in April last year before three runs in Benchmark races for Meagher at the start of this year's Queensland Racing Carnival. 

The Malaysian-born Lee moved to Atherton three decades ago and has been training for more than 20 years.

He is best known in the south for his Group 3 Queensland Cup win with Regal Punch in 2004.

Lee ran a popular Chinese restaurant at Mareeba for many years before selling it last year to concentrate full-time on training.

 


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