Boxing Day test for Ronda

11 December 2015

Mark Forbes will give his precocious filly Ronda (NZ) (O’Reilly) an early sight of Ellerslie ahead of a return for the biggest cash prize of all.

“I’m 80 to 90 percent sure she will run there on Boxing Day and dodge the Eclipse Stakes on New Year’s Day,” the Cambridge trainer said.

“That way it will give us an extra week to get her ready for the Karaka Million.”

Off the back of a home track trial success, Ronda made a lasting impression when Forbes took her south for her first start at Otaki where she romped home over 1000 metres after making the pace.

“She was pretty impressive and she ran good time (58.74s),” he said. “She pulled up super after that and since then she’s had a week on the water walker at Russell and Robyn Rogers’ place.”

While Ronda has already showed her talent on race day, Forbes has an unraced youngster he has high hopes for later in the season.

An unnamed daughter of Snitzel was one of two juvenile winners for the stable at the recent Cambridge trials.

“She is probably one of the best bred fillies in the country so she’s pretty exciting,” Forbes said.

Out of a Zabeel mare, she is a half-sister to the Gr.2 Autumn Classic winner and Gr.1 Australian Guineas runner-up Alpine Eagle.

“She’s going out for three weeks and when she comes back she’ll probably follow the same path as Our Rokkii,” Forbes said.

Our Rokkii (NZ) (Roc De Cambes) was placed on debut for the stable earlier this year before he was third in the Gr.3 Phoenix Park Classic and fourth in the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes.

He has subsequently been a three-year-old winner from the Victorian operation of David Hayes and Tom Dabernig.

Forbes also won a Cambridge two-year-old trial with a Showcasing gelding, who beat his stablemate by Coat’s Choice, with both horses likely to continue their careers in Singapore. – NZ Racing Desk.

The Corner with Garry Chittick

It is not the easiest role, that of Chairman of our Thoroughbred Racing Board. Like all chairmanships, one’s mind is rarely not occupied with the responsibility. To our Chairman, I say thanks. A lifetime in the industry, Chairman of our largest club, it is difficult to identify someone more suited to the role.

14 May 2026

Sav’s girl Chispa targeting the Gr.1 Oaks

Savabeel filly Chispa enhanced her Queensland Oaks credentials with a dominant Randwick victory for Chris Waller and James McDonald, with the Pencarrow Stud-bred and raced filly surging clear over 1800 metres in impressive fashion.