Promising Winner for Rubick

Talented gelding Erno (3g Rubick x Little Mary, by Duke of Marmalade) overcame a very heavy track at Warwick Farm on Wednesday to post his third win and first for the new season.

Prepared by Kim Waugh, Erno had race fitness on his side stepping out for his third run back from a spell and was strong to the line to win the Benchmark 72 event over 1400 metres by a short neck beating older rivals as favourite.

A $70,000 Magic Millions purchase for Kim Waugh from the Amarina Farm draft, Erno runs for a syndicate that includes his breeder Ralph Johns and with three wins and two placings from six starts has already won over $120,000 in prizemoney.

He is the first foal from Little Mary, a winning half-sister to Group III winner Hofmeister and stakes-winner Callanish. Little Mary has a yearling filly by Rubick and is in foal to another of the young Coolmore sires in Caravaggio.

Erno is the seventh winner this season for Rubick, whose fee has been set at $38,500 at Coolmore this spring.