8 Feb 2017
Sir Patrick and Justine, Lady Hogan's colours will be prominent on Waikato's biggest day of racing at Te Rapa on Saturday.
Ronchi and Abidewithme will go around in the Hogan colours in New Zealand's richest weight-for-age race - the Gr.1 $400,000 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m), while Group Three performer Aotearower contests an undercard event.
Ronchi performed well in his Te Rapa dress rehearsal last Saturday.
The capable four-year-old will make his second bid for Group One honours after he was unplaced in the same race last season.
"He's very well and we took him to Te Rapa last Saturday for a gallop between races," said Allan Peard, who trains the son of Stravinsky with Bruce Wallace.
"He's got a lot of ability."
The winner of five races and a Group placegetter, Ronchi finished sixth after an interrupted run in the Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile two starts back and he was then sixth in an open handicap at Pukekohe Park.
"He got cut off at the 1400 [metres] and to be fair he was a run short that day," Peard said.
"A little bit of rain would be spot on for him."
Abidewithme will make her final race day appearance in the Herbie Dyke Stakes.
In foal to Tavistock, the Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards-trained mare bounced back to form with a solid last-start performance at Trentham to finish third in the Gr.1 Thorndon Mile.
The Redoute's Choice mare has won nine races, including two at Group Two level and she is also twice a Group One placegetter.