"They went hard early and he dropped a fair way off them, but we had decided to ride him cold from the wide gate and that allowed him to go through his gears," Ritchie said.
Sultan Of Swing has now won twice this preparation and returned a cheque in his other three appearances.
"He's been a model of consistency and the only time he has disappointed me was at Rotorua, but he's got a terrible record on left-handed tracks," Ritchie said.
The gelding proved too good for the unpredictable Ronchi, while the well-supported Romancer boxed on for third after racing the trail.
Meanwhile in-form filly Le Castile is delivering exactly what trainer Mark Blackie has been expecting.
The daughter of Dalghar won for the second time in her short career yesterday when she accounted for a tidy field of three-year-olds in the Pyramid Trucking 1400m, also at the Te Aroha meeting.
"I've always had a good opinion of this filly and that's a great win," the Tauranga horseman said.
"She was a little bit fresh today as well and she's still learning her game."
Successful in maiden company at Te Teko last month, Le Castile settled in the trail and once clear in the run home she rounded off strongly.
Blackie is unsure of the grey's immediate future, but he has ruled out a tilt at the Gr.3 Cambridge Breeders' Stakes (1200m) at Te Rapa in a fortnight's time.
Le Castile had a head to spare at the post from the well-backed Sacred Day, who powered home from the back of the field while Lincoln Raiderwas an eye-catching third.
- NZ Racing Desk
