25 March 2026
Ronaldo on target for Group One goal
Trainer Robbie Patterson is confident unbeaten colt Ronaldo (NZ) (Ribchester) will make his presence felt in the Gr.1 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Trentham on Saturday irrespective of track conditions, with rain forecast later in the week.
The hulking son of Ribchester handled soft conditions when a comfortable winner at Wanganui last start, having won on a heavy track on debut.
“He hasn't missed a beat since he last raced and I couldn't be happier with him. I haven’t done a lot with him as he had a tough run at Wanganui.”
Ronaldo will be ridden by regular rider Craig Grylls and is $3.50 second favourite behind Seize the Day (I Am Invincible).
“Craig believes that on top of the ground he would be way better, but he has done it already on a very testing track at New Plymouth and it was a tricky old track at Wanganui the other day,” Patterson said.
“Seize The Day looks the one to beat. He’s drawn 11 and we’re drawn 12, so it gives us options of following him and maybe if there is rain the draw might be a help.”
Patterson believes Ronaldo will furnish into a lovely three-year-old and already has Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) aspirations along with a tilt at the $4.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m).
“I think he'll relish 1600m, because he's such a big, strong, relaxed horse. Horses in his age group, if they can relax and have the ability, they can go a fair way,” he said. “I'm confident if everything goes to plan, going into his three-year-old career, he'll definitely get a mile.
“He is the most gorgeous colt you would ever see. He doesn’t get flustered about anything and he is a perfect gentleman both on and off the track.
“He’s huge, he looks like a three-year-old now. I’m not worried about stepping up to 1400m this weekend as he gets stronger as the race goes.”
Ronaldo, who is bred and raced by Ron and Shirley Miller, is out of seven-win mare Miss Daisy (NZ), a half-sister to stakes performer Real Specialist (NZ) (Storming Home).
“This is their first horse with me, but Ian Adams used to train all of their horses, and he retired,” Patterson said. “He trained the dam, Miss Daisy for them. I got to know Ron and Shirley as they live in Bell Block, which is also where I live.
“They bred this guy and said they’d send him to me, and there is a full-sister being broken in at present which will also come to me.”
Patterson will also have four-year-old gelding Ma Te Wa (NZ) (Ma Te Wa) in the Listed Bramco Granite & Marble Flying Handicap at Trentham on Saturday, while he is looking forward to three-year-old filly Capaci (NZ) (Tivaci) stepping out over 1400m in the Majestic Horse Floats Rating 65.
“Ma Te Wa would appreciate it if there was a shower of rain,” Patterson said. “He gets the blinkers on this weekend, which might just get that length out of him and you'd think he'd be somewhere in the firing line.
“Capaci is a very nice filly. Craig rode her in a jump-out last week at Stratford, and she was impressive. He was really happy with her. She's had a win and a third in the Eulogy (Gr.3, 1600m), so she's a promising filly.
“If she performs well on Saturday, she'll go to Christchurch for those two fillies' races (Listed NZB Insurance Stakes, 1600m and Listed Warstep Stakes, 2000m).”
Meanwhile, Group Two winning filly Ultimate Habit (NZ) (Embellish) is enjoying a lengthy break after her sixth placing behind Ohope Wins (NZ) (Ocean Park) in the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m).
“She is going to make into a lovely mile to 2000m horse in the future,” Patterson said. “She never had any luck in the Oaks (Gr.1, 2400m) as she was three-wide with no cover the whole way.
“I decided to give her a really good spell and I think even as a five-year-old she’ll be a lovely Group class mare.” - NZ Racing Desk
Aeliana odds on to snare back to back G1s
With confirmation this week that Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun) will target the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, stablemate Aeliana (NZ) (Castelvecchio) is set to back up at Rosehill in a Tancred Stakes showdown with defending titleholder Dubai Honour (Pride Of Dubai).
One of three Group 1 winners for Chris Waller and James McDonald on Golden Slipper Day, Aeliana has never raced on consecutive Saturdays, while the Tancred Stakes will also mark the first time she has stretched to 2400m since thumping her ATC Australian Derby rivals 12 months ago.
She has been installed an emphatic $1.65 favourite, ahead of Dubai Honour at $4.20, while five of her Waller-trained stablemates will also take their place in the feature, including improving stayer Soul Of Spain (Phoenix of Spain).
If one of Aeliana's barnmates was to spring an upset, Waller's assistant trainer, Charlie Duckworth, suggested the last start Sky High Stakes runner-up could be the one.
"I think he's going to be hard to beat," Duckworth said.
"Aeliana is on the back-up. It was a tough, testing run (in the Ranvet Stakes).
"She's got the form and everything, but a mile-and-a-half at three-year-old grade against a mile-and-a-half against these older, tougher horses is a different ball game.
"River Of Stars (Sea The Stars) will improve up to 2400 metres, and you will see the same from Valiant King (Roaring Lion). He jumps out of the ground when he gets to 2400 metres as well, so we've got some very good hopes."
Three mares have won the Tancred Stakes (2400m) in the past 10 years, Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed) in 2020 the most recent.
McDonald again has the ride on Aeliana, while the champion hoop also teams up with Waller in the day's other Group 1 when former New Zealander Ohope Wins (NZ) (Ocean Park) makes her Sydney debut for the leading stable in the Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m). - NZ Racing Desk
NZ Racing Desk
Dennis Ryan
Paul Vettise
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