Ronda runs them ragged at Otaki

27 November 2015

Speedy filly Ronda has made an impressive opening to her Listed Karaka Million campaign.

The precocious youngster claimed fourth spot in the order of entry for the January 24 feature when she led all the way for a dominant first-up win in the Courtesy Ford 2YO at Otaki on Friday.

“She’s still got a bit to learn and halfway down the straight she pricked her ears and was waiting for them,” trainer Mark Forbes said.

“She’ll run on Boxing Day or New Year’s Day to give her a look around Ellerslie and then it will be on to the Million.”

Forbes trains the Waikato Stud-bred Ronda for Singapore owner Justin Wong, who he became friendly with during a five month period they spent together on a cadet training course at the Irish National Stud.

By O’Reilly and out of Victoria’s Reign, Ronda was bought by Red Hare Bloodstock for $55,000 at the 2015 Premier Yearling Sale.

The Corner with Garry Chittick

It would appear I now have to continue my weekly Corner with the amount of rumblings at the start of our new racing season. I have been around long enough to know we can never please all; my tenure as Chairman of the Racing Board was subjected to as much vitriol as subsequent Boards have had to bear, so what’s different this time, or is it different.

5 August 2026

First foal for Waikato’s Group 1 winner Skew Wiff

Group 1-winning Savabeel mare Skew Wiff (ex Starvoia), known affectionately as ‘Wiffy’, foaled a filly by Super Seth in the early hours of Wednesday, 5 August.