Ronron runs out easy Stakes winner
The script was already partially written. All Ronron and stablemate Shanghai Pass had to do was to fill in the blank spaces and they did so admirably with Ronron running out an easy winner in the $886,000 Thoroughbred Racing Hall Of Fame Stakes (G11) feature by 3 1/2 lengths to close the Exacta with Shanghai Pass at Caymanas Park on Saturday.
Also recording notable victories on the under card of the 15th Hall Of Fame raceday programme were the 7-2 chance Rip Current who won the $715,000 Reynold ‘Ren’ Gonzalves Memorial Cup Overnight Allowance joint secondary feature by beating 60-1 shot Ivan The Terrible by two lengths in the 2,000 metres event and Burning Time a 22-1 bet who beat a 14-horse field by three parts of a length to win the other secondary feature — the $715,000 Leslie McRae Memorial Cup over 1,100 metres.
Rip Current, ridden by Dick Cardenas, ran 2,000 metres in 2:10.0 in the 11-horse field for Overnight Allowance three-year-olds and upward while Burning Time, ridden by Wesley Henry, travelled 1,100 metres in 1:09 flat to open his winning account in the 13-horse field for native-bred three-year-old maidens. A field of 14 was earlier declared but Power By Tutor was a very late non-runner at the gates.
Ronron, an American-bred filly competing in Open Allowance company for the first time and partnered by Paul Francis, ran 1,200 metres in a respectable time of 1:11.1 and went from gate to wire to register her fourth straight win from six starts for the season in the field of seven.
In her quest for victory, Ronron trained by Gary Subratie and coming from the number one barrier, came rushing forward from the inside draw with a smooth run soon to assume the lead after the starter sent them on their way and from then was never headed. Stablemate Shanghai Pass, the mount of Trevor Simpson, positioned himself well to throw out a strong challenge after turning for home. But Ronron was a well oiled machine after turning for home and although Shanghai Pass was staying on strongly never looked as though he had it in him to close the cap which widened the filly increased her pace under minimum of urging from Francis and came home under a hand ride with Shanghai Pass staying on for second.
New Kingston, ridden by Omar Walker, who was never worst than fourth came running on to claim third, four lengths back from The Bomber ridden by Dane Nelson.
The victory was no surprise to trainer Subratie but the time he admitted “is a little disappointing”.
Owned by Kenval Wallace, Ronron a three-year-old bay filly is by Lion Heart out of Technical Analysis (Grindstone) bred by Yoshio Fujita in the USA.
It was her fifth win from seven career starts and she earned $484,000 as the winner’s share to bankroll $2,439,050 lifetime for owner Wallace.
Meanwhile Subratie, who also saddled Rojo in the fourth race with Ameth Robles astride, was the most successful trainer with two wins while Cardenas and Jevvanne Irwin took riding honours with two wins each. Cardenas’s other win was aboard the 13-1 bet Pat On Call for trainer Lawrence Freemantle in the seventh race while Erwin’s two successes were astride 5-1 chance Reggae Rock in the opening race for trainer Robert Darby Snr and Spongy Spongy also at 5-1 in the second race for trainer Welsh Souter.