A Path To Ronda once again delivered a big performance in a race that did not play to her strengths, underlining her talent and suggesting she has a very bright future ahead.
In a fiercely competitive renewal, A Path To Ronda was sent off at 15/2 in a field of nine. Gavin Sheehan dropped her in at the rear and she raced a little keenly early on, but largely jumped well, aside from one jump where she edged right and briefly lost momentum. She remained in touch throughout and, as the pace lifted approaching the turn, Gavin angled her out to build momentum and pick off a couple, then slipped her back to the rail to challenge. As ever, she found plenty when it mattered, finishing strongly on the heavy ground to take third, just two lengths behind the runner-up and four and a quarter lengths clear of fourth.
After the race, jockey Gavin Sheehan gave us his verdict on the performance:
“It was a massive run, all credit to her. She jumped off a bit keen and I tried to get her back and switched off. We got into a nice rhythm, she does just go a bit to the right, I switched her wide and once we got over the first one down the back she suddenly came alive. Once we got going I thought we were going to win coming down to the last. Sandown would have been much more to her liking.”
Trainer Jamie Snowden reported after the race:
“It was a wonderful performance. Tough, game and genuine. She was a bit keen early but Gav got her switched off. The pace wasn’t as strong as we thought it might be but it picked up halfway down the back. Gav has pulled her out wide and then tucked her in down the inner. She looked like she had every chance coming to the last but probably the exertions of coming from the back just took their toll and she couldn’t quite sustain her effort up the run in. It was a really good performance, she did go slightly right and didn’t make life easy for Gav. The track at Sandown would’ve played more to our strengths, a right handed track that is more of a stamina test, but I am pleased they rescheduled the race. I feel there is more to come from her and she will be aimed at the Grade 1 Honeysuckle Mares’ Novice at Fairyhouse on Sunday 5th April.”
This was another excellent performance from A Path To Ronda. Her owners enjoyed a fantastic day at Warwick in a private room. We can now look forward to her stepping up to Grade 1 company in Ireland, where she will be fully deserving of her chance at the highest level.
A limited number of shares are still available in A Path To Ronda for just £750 per share HERE.
