St John Gray’s hardknocking chestnut Ronnie’s Candy has a penchant for reserving her best for the big days.
The daughter of King Of Kings turned up in a galloping mood on Saturday and duly ran them down, coming from near last off a decent pace.
Relaxed as she enjoys her racing, Ronnie’s Candy had ten lengths to make up in the R350 000 Gr2 Ipi Tombe Challenge at the halfway mark of the home straight, after Running Brave had gone quickly and stretched them.
Luke Ferraris salutes as Ronnie’s Candy charges to victory (Pic – JC Photos)
As the 3yo Wisteria Walk glided into the lead at the 400m, Ronnie’s Candy (13-2) was hooked outside for a run by the promising Luke Ferraris. She picked it up powerfully with daylight ahead and ran on with resolution to beat fellow 4yo In The Dance (17-4) by 1,75 lengths in a time of 96,86 secs.
Wisteria Walk (9-2) stopped late but was not disgraced in third.
Ferraris saluted triumphantly at the line, the win obviously meaning plenty to him.
As for the fancied Vistula, the Stipes reported that shortly after the start, she and Pretty Border came together and bumped on a number of occasions when awkwardly placed between In The Dance, which rolled out and Wisteria Walk, which was carried in by Running Brave – who was hanging in throughout.
A Graystone Stud home-bred, Ronnie’s Candy is by the ill-fated King Of Kings (Sadler’s Wells ) out of the three-time winner Bennie And the Jets (Jet Master).
She has won 4 races with 7 places from 15 starts for stakes of R842 775.
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Gr2 Ipi Tombe Challenge (SAf-Gr2)
Turffontein, South Africa, November 30, R350k, 1600m, turf, good, 1.36.86
1 – RONNIE’S CANDY (SAF), 59.0, ch f 4, King Of Kings (SAF) – Bennie Andthe Jets (SAF) by Jet Master (SAF). Owner Mr St John D Gray; Breeder Graystone Stud; trainer SD Gray; jockey L J Ferraris
2 – In The Dance (SAF), 59.0, b f 4, Gimmethegreenlight (AUS) – Akinfeet (SAF) by Fort Wood (USA)
3 – Wisteria Walk (SAF), 52.0, b f 3, Vercingetorix (SAF) – Wooden Doll (SAF) by Fort Wood (USA)
Margins: 1.75, 0.25, 0.75
