The smart 3yr-old appeared at Rangiora on Saturday, duly winning against seven rivals with Peter Davis in the sulky.
But as his Waikouaiti trainer, Andrew Faulks, explained, the fact he was in a work-out was proof that continued treatment on a troublesome tendon had gone well.
The son of Falcon Seelster has been staying with Davis and his partner, Margo Nyhan, at Burnham since winning at Forbury Park in March to reap the benefits of Nyhan's electric current machine, which helps horses recover from tendon injuries.
Falcon Ruler's issue is a tendon in the near front leg, although Faulks said as tendon tears go, it was at the ''bottom end of the scale''.
A sixth on the slushy Oamaru track on June 16 disappointed Faulks, although there was a reason.
The colt takes on a handy 1-2 win field which includes Eddie Boy, although Falcon Ruler has drawn barrier 7 for the 2600m stand ''He is a pretty good beginner, but I don't know if we'll rush him or not.''
Faulks has two pacers engaged in a 1-win mobile pace over 2000m and Aveross Rustler should be able to make use of his barrier draw of two after a tidy run for fifth at Forbury Park on June 28.
He didn't go too bad last time - he just got a bit far back.
''He sprinted home really well in that last quarter, but he was four and five-wide going around the bend. I think he's up to them if he gets the right run.''
Faulks has gone reasonably easy on the Live Or Die gelding in between races.
''He's a pretty light worker, because he does take a day or two to get over a race - that's why I space [his runs] a bit.
''He probably wouldn't be able to go week to week or he might go to bits on you.''
Bubs Hanover has drawn poorly in the same event, and Faulks, who is looking after the horse for trainer Alan Paisley while the Invercargill trainer is on holiday, said missing a few runs had not helped.
''It's going to need a fair bit of luck from the draw and it missed a bit of work with the snow and rain.
''[Alan] said it takes a bit of work and a bit of racing.''
