Jimmie, Star Racing Writer

ONE of the biggest grudge clashes in local-racing history takes the spotlight in tomorrow's ninth race when RONRON, the country's top-rated horse, locking horns with former stablemate DANCE SO SWEET in the 1300-metre Eileen Cliggott Trophy.

RONRON was yanked from trainer Gary Subratie's barn by owner Kenval Wallace three weeks ago after nearly three months of tension between both men.

With top American-bred fillies RONRON and DANCE SO SWEET in his barn, Subratie was seen as a challenger to Wayne DaCosta for the trainers' title at the start of the year.

However, things started souring between him and Wallace just about in April after the sale of BIG MAN BOYU.

Believing he had the 2000 Guineas winner in UNCLE KEN, Wallace sold BIG MAN BOYU to Trinidadian Baskaran Bassawh, a fellow Subratie owner, who went on to win the 2000 Guineas with the colt. Then came last month's sale of DANCE SO SWEET, the straw that broke the proverbial camel's back.

improving filly

Wallace, it is said, agreed to sell the improving filly to owner Michael Bernard in late June. On June 25, Wallace was shocked to see DANCE SO SWEET winning in Bernard's colours even though he was still the official owner.

After completing the DANCE SO SWEET transaction, Wallace rubbed salt into the gaping wound left in Subratie's barn by moving RONRON to DaCosta, his former trainer's arch-rival.

Tomorrow, DANCE SO SWEET, who has improved immensely this season, will take a crack at RONRON who has a race record of 10 wins and three second-place finishes in 13 starts.

DANCE SO SWEET has youth and weight on her side, being a three-year-old and carrying 51.0 kilos, whereas four-year-old RONRON's impregnable record speaks for itself, beaten once in her last 10 starts - from five and a half furlongs to a mile.

RONRON goes to post with 60.5 kilos, giving away 21lb to DANCE SO SWEET. Dick Cardenas is aboard DANCE SO SWEET while Shane Ellis will pilot RONRON with the big weight.

DANCE SO SWEET was beaten in near track-record time by the speedy SAINT CECELIA at 1000 metres straight on July 9.

RONRON's last race was a workmanlike victory for Subratie at 1100 metres over DaCosta's DOUBLE THE HONEY on May 11 in the Lotto Classic, carrying 60.5 kilos.

However, DANCE SO SWEET, in her controversial June 25 race, went faster with 53.0 kilos, clocking 1:04.4.

dangerous contender

Even though they're going a furlong longer tomorrow, DANCE SO SWEET is still a dangerous contender. She was beaten only by MISMYRTLEBOYRICHIE at the distance on June 11, going down by a half length in a zippy 1:17.1, beating the 1:18.0 RONRON clocked last August.

Her downfall, however, will be having DaCosta's other runners gang up on her in the six-horse field. RONRON will have HEART OF GOLD, NEW KINGSTON and THE GUARDIAN to take turns at DANCE SO SWEET on the lead before she comes charging off the final turn.

DANCE SO SWEET won't go down without a fight but RONRON has been tuned by DaCosta, clocking an eye-popping 1:05.0 for five and a half furlongs on July 9, the last five in 58.3. She won't lose.