FORMER Kiwi pacer Jason Rulz in thriving with new trainer Michael “Mouse” Brennan in the countdown to the Perth Inter Dominion.
But it’s yet to be seen whether he will be the stable top seed ahead of the opening round of heats at Gloucester Park on November 27.
That is because another of Brennan’s former Kiwi pacers, Billies A Star, has gone to another level at the right time.
The five-year-old completed a hattrick of Gloucester Park wins in narrow but career-best style last Friday night.
More on him soon.
But first, Brennan said Jason Rulz would have the hopples on for the first time in Perth this week and only have one lead-up race ahead of the Inter Dominion.
“He’s settled in unbelievably well and it’s helped with the weather being quite mild for the past week,” Brennan said.
“We know how good he is and if, as an older horse, he can improve that little bit with a change of scenery and training, then he’s going to be a major player in this series.”
Brennan said a $30,000 standing-start race at Pinjarra in three weeks would be Jason Rulz’s only lead-up race.
“He’ll only need the one and that will be perfect because it has a maximum backmark of 10m,” he said.
“It’s a race specifically programmed for the Inter Dominion horses and it will be ideal for him and a few others I suspect.”
Brennan said he went to NZ to drive Jason Rulz himself a few weeks back before buying 75 per cent of the former top juvenile for his clients.
“I’m really pleased the original owners have kept 25 per cent as well,” he said.
“I think he’s the sort of horse who will really love the tempo of racing over here.”
So is Brennan more excited about Jason Rulz or Billies A Star?
“It’s too early to say because I haven’t done enough with Jason Rulz yet,” he said.
“I just think I’m really lucky to be heading into a hometown Inter Dominion with two horses I really think will be serious contenders.”
Brennan said he was “incredibly proud” Billies A Star’s win last Friday night.
“When they ran 27.3sec down the baxk straight with him sitting parked, I thought he was gone on the turn,” he said.
“But he’s so strong and has such a will to win. He just wouldn’t give in.”
Billies A Star lifted off the canvas to snatch victory in the last stride in a 1min55.7sec mile rate for 2130m.
It’s earned him a little freshen-up.
“He can have a week off after that one,” Brennan laughed. “Then it’s back into it and one more run before the Inter starts.”
That run will be in the Bunbury Cup in three weeks.
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