Rubi set to shine like a Diamond for her owners

The owners of Sportsbet Blue Diamond Preview (1000m) winner Rubi’s Choice are currently enjoying the ride of a lifetime with the filly – and the best part of the fairytale story is that they didn’t have to spend a cent up front. 

Bred by Melbourne property magnate Lionel Krongold out of his prolific producer Redasun, Rubi’s Choice took out the Group 3 Preview (F) – in a quicker time than the boys – to emulate the achievements of her full-brother and former stablemate Lincoln Square, who also made a winning debut at Caulfield back in 2022.   

The flying filly is now set to put her Group 1 Blue Diamond (1200m) credentials on the line in Saturday’s Fillies’ Prelude (1100m) at Caulfield, where she will again be partnered by Beau Mertens. 

Krongold is currently on a working holiday in Queensland, so will be watching on from afar as the juvenile daughter of Rubick bids to plot a path to victory from barrier 12 and, in the process, preserve the unbeaten start to her career. 

The octogenarian is a renowned philanthropist and that streak of generosity has extended to his thoroughbred portfolio, with Krongold effectively gifting shares in Rubi’s Choice to some of trainer Greg Eurell’s existing client base.

With a 45 per cent share, Krongold still holds managing ownership rights but, in the light of his long-standing passion for the thoroughbred industry and his willingness to make racehorse ownership a much more affordable exercise, the former Essendon Football Club board member gave Eurell express permission to syndicate the filly at no additional cost to her new co-owners. 

“Since I turned 80 and we don’t have a stud farm any more, I treat it more as a hobby these days,” said Krongold, who owned the boutique Talwood Park operation in Whittlesea until 2000. 

“I said to Greg a couple of years ago that whenever we get a filly from one of our broodmares, I’d be happy to lease them out free of charge to any owners who want to have a bit of fun but don’t want to put up any money up front. 

“These syndicators do a good job, but people still have to come up with the capital to buy a share; whereas the owners of this filly have shares in her for three years and all they have to pay is the training fees based on their percentage. They’re obviously having the time of their lives with her, they’re the part-owners of a stakes winner so they’re well in front already. 

“I didn’t put the syndicate together because that was all done by Greg and his stable staff, but I look forward to meeting them all soon. I do know one of them, Darren Bewick, who used to play for Essendon when I was on the board there. He’s got a few horses with Greg and he messaged me after her win in the Blue Diamond Preview, I think he and all the other owners had a pretty big night afterwards – and so they should.” 

If Rubi’s Choice were to win the Blue Diamond, for which she is generally rated a $26 chance, no doubt the celebrations would last long into the night. However, having been in the racing and breeding industry for more than half a century, Krongold is keeping his feet firmly on the ground. 

The filly’s run in the Group 2 Prelude will determine whether or not connections stump up the $55,000 late entry fee for Victoria’s premier race for two-year-olds.   

But for now, Krongold is content to enjoy the ride safe in the knowledge that, even if Rubi’s Choice is unable to deliver his second Group 1 triumph as an owner (and first as breeder), as a juvenile stakes winner she’ll make a very handy addition to his boutique broodmare band once her racing days are done.   

“A lot can happen with two-year-olds from one day to the next, so you really need to let them tell you how they’re going,” he said. 

“She came through her run in the Blue Diamond Preview so well that she could have gone around again a day later. The plan would be to press onto the Blue Diamond if she runs well again in the Prelude, but if at any stage she shows us that she’s shin sore or not 100 per cent right, then we’ll look after her and send her straight to the paddock. 

“The health and welfare of our horses always comes first and Greg takes a patient approach, so she’s in the right hands. I’d obviously love to breed from her one day, but hopefully that’s a fair way off and we can have a lot of fun with her first.”