A champion in the mid-1980s, he took on the elite and showed them how it's done

Rubiton was a champion Australian racehorse of the mid-1980s. He was bred by the Oamaru Stud in Victoria. Rubiton's name was a combination of "Ruby" and "ton", a colloquial term for 100 runs in cricket - a century.

Rubiton was sired by the champion Victorian sprinter Century, the most successful son of Better Boy and was the third foal of Ruby. Century was named Champion Sire with only two crops of racing age being versatile enough to sire a Sydney Cup winner and an Oaks winner in his first crop and a Golden Slipper winner in his second. Rubiton was offered for sale at the Adelaide Yearling sales in 1985 by Oamaru Stud. He was sold to Pat Barns on behalf of Silyab Pty Ltd for $45,000.

Given plenty of time to mature Rubiton didn’t make his debut until he was an August three-year-old, but it was worth the wait. On a heavy track, Rubiton cruised away to win effortlessly, by two and a half lengths from Military Plume with third four lengths away. Taken to Melbourne for his next run in the Second Kilsyth 3YO Handicap at Sandown, he recorded an easy victory over future VRC Derby winner Raveneaux. Stepping up to stakes class he went to Moonee Valley for the Red Anchor Stakes over 1200m. Rubiton again proved far superior, racing away from his opponents to win by five lengths from Arch of Victory. After a spell Rubiton returned to racing in the Gr.1 William Reid Stakes. Canny Lass and Between Ourselves came together when not quite clear of Rubiton causing the entire to be checked and he dropped back to finish with a wall of horses just behind the placegetters. A third at Sandown in the Autumn Stakes followed - Rubiton returned to Adelaide to prepare for the big autumn sprints. Soon after Harry White was offered the ride and rode Rubiton for the remainder of his career.

Next up he tackled the best sprinters in the land in the Oakleigh Plate. In fourth place turning for home Rubiton soon moved up to third behind Special and Placid Ark. He was no match for the two champion sprinters as Placid Ark gained the upper hand to win with Rubiton third four lengths away. A week later Rubiton took on a field of established WFA performers in the Futurity Stakes and gave a preview of what he was to do the following spring. Around the turn he took over and raced away over the concluding stages to win easily from King Phoenix who had chased hard down the straight. A subsequent rematch with Placid Ark and Special occurred in the Newmarket. At the 400m mark, racing on the inside rail, Rubiton joined and overtook Special before gaining a clear lead. Down the grandstand side of the track, Placid Ark demonstrated exceptional speed and power, ultimately proving superior and achieving a historic feat by completing the Lightning, Oakleigh, and Newmarket treble. Rubiton then ran 3rd in the 3YO Phar Lap Stakes in Sydney after being galloped on.

After a spell he was set for the Melbourne spring with his first target the Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley. It was thought to be a race the hot favourite Broad Reach would win, however Rubiton powered away at the 600m point, creating a new race record of 1.10.5 with his final 800m in 46.6. Only 5 rivals opposed the stallion at his next run the Memsie Stakes at Caulfield. In the final stages he came away under hands and heels to win by a neck from Society Bay with Cossack Warrior third. Set for the John F Feehan Stakes over 1619m at Moonee Valley, Rubiton was running race times in trackwork. The race itself was billed as the clash between Rubiton and Vo Rogue, and this pair dominated in the run, with Rubiton drawing alongside Vo Rogue around the turn with daylight to the others. Rubiton hit the front before kicking away under hands and heels to win. Five days later the Underwood Stakes was billed as an even clash between Military Plume and Rubiton. Military Plume had won the Australian Guineas the previous autumn and had returned to racing in the spring with major wins. Rubiton just shaded Military Plume as they challenged for the lead together. On entering the straight Rubiton drifted in slightly causing Military Plume to check as Rubiton hit the front on straightening and cruised away from the others to win in a track record time of 2.00.00 flat for the 2000 metres

Only two weeks later was Rubiton’s next start the Caulfield Stakes. He appeared unbeatable on the form leading up to the race, but on the Friday the day before the race Rubiton bolted in trackwork. The race showed the workout had flattened Rubiton as Fair Sir raced clear past the 200m with Rubiton flat out trying to chase him. It was decided that Rubiton would be sent away from the city training environment to Leopold near Geelong in an attempt to freshen him up for the main race of the spring, the WS Cox Plate only two weeks away. When he returned for the race the change in routine appeared to have worked. The field contained the best of the older WFA performers (with the exception of Military Plume) plus the best of the 3yos. Star miler Campaign King, New Zealand mare Tidal Light, front runner Vo Rogue, Fair Sir and Drought plus the outstanding 3yos Our Poetic Prince, Marwong, Beau Zam and Kaapstad. Our Poetic Prince had raced clear, but once balanced up, Rubiton charged after the 3yo reeling him in to win by a half length with Fair Sir third. The tearaway leader Vo Rogue had set such a fast pace early, it resulted in Rubiton running a course record of 2.02.9 for the 2040m.

A week later he backed up in the Mackinnon Stakes and with only three genuine weight for age horses in the race he was expected to win easily.  From exposed form the race was expected to be dominated by Rubiton with King of Brooklyn and Military Plume the only others to be given a hope as most other runners were in their final lead up runs to the Melbourne Cup the following Tuesday. Rubiton inched to a half neck advantage over the concluding stages to win from King of Brooklyn with Military Plume third.

Rubiton returned to South Australia for a spell in the Adelaide Hills before he was returned to training for a tilt at the William Reid Stakes. Rubiton was found in his box with a tendon injury. Thoughts at the time were that he may have become cast during the morning and injured himself trying to get up. The injury ended the stallions career. Rubiton began his stud career at Transmedia Park Stud at Cootamundra in Spring 1988 after Mike Willessee had bought a quarter share the previous spring. When the stud was disbanded in 1995 Rubiton was moved to Blue Gum Farm in Victoria where he stood and was often described as one of the best value sires available. During his stud career his has sired the winners of over 32 million including over 29 individual stakeswinners and 21 stakesplacegetters. He has sired over 500 to race for over 340 winners with a strike rate of over 65%.  So far his best galloper has been the Cox Plate Champion Fields of Omagh. His progeny also feature, Adam, Flavour, Patezza, Rubitano, Ruby Clipper, Innovation Girl, Dilly Dally, Monopolize and Truly Wicked. After an infection, Rubiton passed away in 2005.

RACE RECORD - 16: 10-1-4

EARNINGS - A$1,360,330

W S Cox Plate (1987)

Futurity Stakes (1987)

Underwood Stakes (1987)

Mackinnon Stakes (1987)