The King Of Kings chestnut Ronnie’s Candy is making a habit of producing the surprises on the big days.
Corne Orffer steers Ronnie’s Candy to a smooth victory (Pic – JC Photos)
Last season the St John Gray bred, owned and trained galloper won the Gr2 SA Fillies Nursery as a twice raced maiden at any price on Champions Day.
On Saturday at Turffontein, having her first run as a 3yo, she scythed through the middle from off the pace to register an impressive victory in the R250 000 Gr3 Starling Stakes.
With five lengths to make up at the 350m marker, the racy chestnut grew wings under Corne Orffer to put 2,20 lengths between herself and the 10-1 Nafaayes, with the runner-up’s stalemate Ghaalla staying on for third.
The De Kock pair’s debut winning stablemate Isle De France was supported in the betting but failed to produce a kick and ran out of the money.
The winner’s time was 83,23 secs.
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).
Her record now stands at 2 wins with 2 places from 6 starts and stakes of R437 500.
_________
Gr3 Starling Stakes (SAf-Gr3)
Turffontein, South Africa, November 3, R250k, 1400m, turf, good, 1.23.23
1 – RONNIE’S CANDY (SAF), 60.0, ch f 3, 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 C Orffer
2 – Nafaayes (AUS), 58.0, b f 3, Exceed And Excel (AUS) – Decelerator (USA) by Dehere (USA)
3 – Ghaalla (SAF), 58.0, b f 3, Var (USA) – Fidelity (SAF) by Captain Al (SAF)
Margins: 2.20, 0.40, 0.30
