The #kznbred King Of Kings chestnut Ronnie’s Candy is making a habit of producing the surprises on the big days.

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 stablemate Ghaalla (a R5-million graduate off the National Yearling Sale) staying on for third.

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). Ronnie’s Candy is a half-sister to winner and Gr3 and Listed Placed Mogok Master.

Her record now stands at 2 wins with 2 places from 6 starts and stakes of R437 500.

Her dam Bennie And The Jets was purchased by St John at the 2015 KZN Mare & Weanling Sale for just R40 000.

Cathy Martin has welcomed a smart Bezrin filly half-sister to Ronnie’s Candy this season for breeder St John Gray. Ronnie’s Candy is a nominee in the Champion 2YO Filly category of the upcoming KZN Breeders Awards, taking place 1 December at Fordoun.

St John has had phenomenal success over the years as a breeder, owner and trainer, his biggest success with five time Gr1 winning Dancewiththedevil.

Congratulations to all concerned.

-extract sportingpost.co.za