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Ron the Greek rolls in Crown Prince Cup

Ron the Greek, shown taking the 2013 Jockey Club Gold Cup, has now won three straight in Saudi Arabia (NYRA/Coglianese Photo/Chelsea Durand) Racing under his Saudi name of Wattani, Ron the Greek drew off to a 3 3/4-length victory in Saturday's Crown Prince Cup for imports, crowning a three-win night in Riyadh for trainer Nicholas Bachalard and jockey Jose Lezcano. They also teamed up to win the companion race for Saudi-breds with Pato. Ron the Greek, who was extending his winning streak to three, is among those happy that the Dubai World Cup is back on the dirt this year. An uncharacteristic 12th in last year's World Cup on Meydan's old Tapeta, the veteran brings abundant back class as a three-time U.S. Grade 1 star on the dirt. The son of Full Mandate ended his 2014 campaign in top form. After a 10 1/4-length conquest in an about 1 1/4-mile test here at King Abdulaziz Racecourse October 31, he stepped up to about 1 1/2 miles in the November 22 Ministry of Education (Student's Cup) and prevailed by a half-length. Making his eight-year-old bow over the same trip on Saturday, Ron the Greek was reserved in fourth throughout the early going. Lezcano knew that he had a handful of horse, as he looked over his shoulder a couple of times on the backstretch and steered his mount toward the outside. Ron the Greek commenced his move entering the far turn, put his head in front on his own, and seized command on the swing for home.

Fly Solo presented the only danger, but Ron the Greek had his measure as he pulled clear to stop the clock in 2:28 1/5 on the fast track. Singalat finished third, and Incorporate was fourth beneath Joel Rosario. Another eight-year-old veteran from the United States, Worldly, checked in ninth, and Chief Havoc was 16th of 18.

Ron the Greek has bankrolled more than $2.7 million from his 35-13-5-4 record. Victorious in the 2010 Lecomte for original trainer Tom Amoss, he eventually ended up in the barn of Hall of Famer Bill Mott and excelled as an older horse. He enjoyed a banner 2012, exploding to a 3 1/2-length score in the Santa Anita Handicap and upsetting Wise Dan in the Stephen Foster. Ron the Greek crushed the Sunshine Millions Classic by 11 1/4 lengths in his 2013 debut and romped by 6 3/4 lengths in the Jockey Club Gold Cup in what turned out to be his seasonal finale.

Purchased by King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Sons and exported to Saudi Arabia, Ron the Greek made a winning debut in Riyadh last February, his prep for the World Cup. He returned from a seventh-month layoff to finish third back in his new home October 24, then wheeled back a week later to kick off his current streak.

Ron the Greek was bred by Jack T. Hammer in Florida and raced for his breeder, who sold an interest to Brous Stable and Wachtel Stable in the summer of 2011. He was produced by the winning Fortunate Prospect mare Flambe, a full sister to stakes-placed Fortuesque, the dam of Grade 2-winning millionaire Musket Man.

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