COURAGE UNDER FIRE GELDING SCORES IN USA

Capable Courage Under Fire gelding Benhope Rulz is carrying on with his good career record in North America.

Formerly prepared in NZ at Woodend Beach by Greg and Nina Hope, Benhope Rulz was named by breeder Richard Dellaca after their successful junior driver son, Ben.

The horse won three and was once second in only five NZ starts for $17,255, before being sold to race in West Australia.

Benhope Rulz won seven of 22 Australian starts, including the Group Two $50,000 The West Australian Nights Of Thunder Pace at Gloucester Park on January 25 this year, his last win across the Tasman.

The four-year-old (to Southern Hemisphere time) was picking up his second in in seven USA starts for the stable, taking his North American earnings over ,000.

His career record has advanced to 12 wins from 34 starts for just over $160,000 in stakes.

Benhope Rulz led from the outside eight gate at Yonkers on Tuesday (NZ time) in a ,000 pace, leading throughout to win by a length in 1:52.4 (fifths).

He's one of five individual winners from six to race for his four-win Badlands Hanover dam Victoria Rulz, having left earlier winners Ranfurly Rulz, Change The Rulz (1:53.2, US), Lis Rulz (five wins) and Vinnie Rulz (2:00.7, four wins).

Her next foal, Rockntommy Rulz, a three-year-old by A Rocknroll Dance, has placed once in seven starts.

Victoria Rulz, race-timed in 1:55.5 (1609m) when third to Safin and Lizzie Maguire in the 2008 Listed $200,000 Harness Jewels 3YO Diamond at Cambridge for the Hope stable, is a half-sister to former NZ Cup starter, Jason Rulz (1:54.6, 15 wins & $308,834) and Art Rulz (1:54.8, USA)

Their Holmes Hanover dam Rule Zona was also a talented filly, winning seven including a DB Fillies Heat, and ran second in a Westport Cup, and third against the boys in a NZ Sapling Stakes at two.

May Rule, the unraced Nevele Bigshot dam of Rule Zona and great grand-dam of Benhope Rulz, was a half-sister to former top 1990s pacer Franco Ice (1:55, mile rate, 2100m; 20 wins & $616,961) and to Tucker’s Rule (1:56.8, US; 53 wins & over $163,000).