Blutigeroo at Flemington in 2007
The 2013 Golden Slipper race day was held on the same weekend as Yeringberg Horse Trials and it was not only the date that the two events had in common. In 2007 a horse called Blutigeroo won the Group 1 BMW Stakes on Golden Slipper day; in 2013 the same horse was competing in the Introductory section at Yeringberg
Blutigeroo (pronounced Blue Tiger Roo after his owners’ favourite footy teams – the Blues, Tigers and Kangaroos) was trained by Colin Little and during his racing career he won over $2 million in prize money. As well as the BMW Stakes he also won the Hobart Cup in 2007 and raced in the Caulfield Cup, Australian Cup and Melbourne Cup in the same year.
Now aged 11 he was competed in the Intro class at Yeringberg by Rukshi Blacker who has had him since 2010. Rukshi was working at Colin Little’s yard when Blutigeroo (called Tigger by Rukshi) first appeared there.
“I didn’t ride track work on him” says Rukshi “ But I looked after him and when the time came to retire him the owners very kindly offered him to me, even though I wasn’t working at Colin’s any more. I didn’t have the money to buy him but they said that didn’t matter and he now lives on my parents’ property in Yellingbo”
Rukshi and Tigger have been competing for about 18 months, having spent the first few months sorting out a few foot problems “He was very good at pulling his front shoes off when I first got him” says Rukshi “Especially a day or so before a competition!”
Now they are enjoying eventing together and Rukshi admits it’s great to gallop along on a cross country course
“He’s pretty amazing, a galloping machine”
From being a Group 1 winning racehorse, Blutigeroo has made an easy transition to regular riding and eventing and Rukshi loves her galloping thoroughbred
“He hasn’t got a bad bone in his body” says Rukshi “He’s affectionate, honest, very clever and fun; a treasure”
CLICK HERE for our report from Yeringberg 2013
