Jungle Ruler was always thereabouts, with 115 starts, mainly throughout Victoria

This free-wheeling grey galloper had a habit of bobbing up at big odds and either injecting some serious value into quaddie tickets or turning them into confetti. Many a pre-quaddie conference from 2006-2012 centred around whether to include Jungle Ruler or leave him out. From the sire, Lion Hunter, out of the mare Calista, part owner and trainer Peter White would guide him with care over six years training on the Mornington Peninsula. Although Jungle Ruler never had the talent to achieve greatness, we cannot ignore a horse that put in so hard and remained competitive for such a long period of time.

With a racing career spanning from July 2006 to December 2012, Jungle Ruler had an exceptionally long and successful tenure in the modern era of racing within the esteemed State of Victoria. His first win was at Yarra Valley over 1200m, with a string of placings following - a common theme as he racked up the racing miles. His next win would come again at Sandown Hillside in a 3yo event in March 2007 before being spelled until the Spring. He resumed in great shape and hit a purple patch of form as a more mature galloper. A win at Mornington over 1008m with his regular ride Micheal Flaherty aboard would be followed by a 2nd at Moe, a 3rd at Cranbourne, before winning there over 1400m in October. There was a 2nd at Werribee, a 3rd placing at Flemington, then a win at Ballarat on a Heavy10 and another at Geelong in December. It seemed that trainer Peter White had found his range at 1400m and these middle distance races would be his forte.

Returning in April 2008, Jungle Ruler struggled to find his feet, but he would win again in June and July over 1216m and 1400m, then at Caulfield over his preferred distance with Darren Gauci in the saddle. He would back that up with another victory there in August 2008 from barrier one. The gelding wouldn't taste victory again until May 2009 at his happy hunting ground, Caulfield, but would fail badly in a trip to Queensland to attack the Gr.1 Doomben 10,000 and the Gr.1 Stradbroke. Back in Victoria, his form fell away somewhat, winning again at Mornington in November 2009 over 1500m. In May and June 2010, Jungle Ruler would score back to back wins, firstly at Cranbourne, and then Flemington on a heavy track over that pet distance. In August he would rack up another at Caulfield, but fail in the class of the Gr.1 Rupert Clarke before being freshened.

The gelding continued to plod around the circuits with two more wins at Flemington and Mornington in 2011, however he struggled to compete from then on and into 2012. He finish last out of 12 in the Woodonga Cup in December 2012 and was finally retired after a lengthy career. The resilient grey notched up 20 wins and 24 placings from an incredible 115 career outings. He knew the Caulfield 1400m like the back of his hoof, racing over that route 28 times for five wins and two minors.

Jungle Ruler was particularly adept on rain-affected surfaces, posting 17 victories on tracks rated soft or worse.

RACE RECORD - 115: 20-12-12

EARNINGS - $848,776