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 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.”