Exciting two-year-old Ronaldo showed maturity beyond his years when winning the Palamountains Nutrition 2YO (1200m) at Wanganui on Saturday, and trainer Robbie Patterson is excited about the future with the progressive son of Ribchester as he eyes the Gr.1 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Trentham in a fortnight.
Having won on debut at New Plymouth last month, Ronaldo was backed into a $1.60 favourite for his second-up test, with the Lisa Latta-trained Pinafore the next fancied runner at $6.20.
The latter was fractious to load and held up the start by several minutes, but despite the extended time in the gates, Ronaldo jumped away well and was sent straight to the front by jockey Craig Grylls.
He wasn’t given it all his own way up front, attacked on the outside throughout by Truly Devine, who drew half a length clear at one stage, but Ronaldo kept composed and showed his talent down the straight, kicking clear of his rivals to score a comprehensive 2-1/4 length victory over Pinafore, with a further half head back to Truly Devine in third.
Grylls, who elected to bypass his home meeting at Matamata to ride Ronaldo at Wanganui, was effusive in his praise for the talented juvenile post-race.
“I have got a lot of time for this horse,” Grylls said. “He was really good again today, he jumped well and put himself there. He just got pestered the whole race, we were going along quite nice and the one outside us was being really annoying, but it didn’t worry him, he was composed, he balanced up and kicked really good. He is a proper horse I think.
“He is just a beautiful big animal with a great attitude. He is the whole package and I am excited to see him go forward. He is going to be a really nice three-year-old and what he is doing now is probably a bonus.”
Patterson was just as impressed with Ronaldo’s winning effort, and he is excited what is ahead of him.
“He was pressured the whole way,” Patterson said. “He is just a cool horse, he even buttoned off with the horse outside him racing him and put half a length on him. I see he had the cheek to prick his ears over the line. They are good signs.
“He will get a mile now I would say. He looks like a three-year-old now, he is exciting.
“I don’t know if he has the turn of foot of a Coventina Bay (former stable Group One winner) but he has got a sustained gallop and that will win him a lot of races.
“He is only two, there is so much upside to him, he could be one of the better three-year-olds next year.”
Ronaldo, who was bred and is raced by Ron and Shirley Miller, is out of seven-win mare Miss Daisy, a half-sister to stakes performer Real Specialist.
Opening at $41 in the TAB’s futures market for the Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes, Ronaldo has now shortened into a $4.50 second favourite following his two unbeaten runs, with Te Akau’s Seize The Day leading the market at $3.80 following his victory at Matamata earlier his week. – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
