Talented four-year-old Romany Prince (Kahal) lifted the first graded win of his career when landing the Gr3 London News Stakes at Turffontein on Saturday.

The race had been due to run last week but inclement weather forced its postponement to Saturday.

Just seven runners lined up in the 1800m contest, which saw the betting headed by the eventual winner, with former Gr1 Sansui Summer Cup runner Deo Juvente (Trippi) a well backed second choice.

Stonehenge (Seventh Rock), as is his want, went out to make the running, and led early on from Deputy Jud (Judpot), with Deo Juvente back in fifth, and former Gr1 Vodacom Durban July third Mac De Lago (Encosta De Lago) bringing up the rear.

With 400m left to run, the front runner found himself challenged by Romany Prince with the likes of Samurai Blade (Where's That Tiger) and Deo Juvente also bidding to challenge. Mac De Lago was also running on, as Stonehenge went out the back door.

As Romany Prince hit the front, he was challenged strongly by Deo Juvente. However, the so of Kahal pulled out a bit more and stayed on for a convincing half a length win from a gallant Deo Juvente. It was another 1.75 lengths back to hatrickc seeking Samurai Blade, who in turn was another 1.25 lengths clear of Mac De Lago.
The latter, thanks to a G1 penalty, was conceding weight all around.
One of three winners on the day for jockey Gavin Lerena, the Ormond Ferraris trained gelding won the 2017 London News Stakes in a time of 111.82.

It was a fifth win in 18 outings for the four-year-old, whose previous biggest win came when successful in last year's Listed Drum Star Handicap.
A R450 000 buy from the 2014 Emperors Palace National Yearling Sale, Romany Prince pushed his earnings to over R540 000 with Saturday's win.

Bred by the Rathmor Stud, Romany Prince is a third graded winner for his exceptional dam Gypsy Queen (Royal Chalice) -with the latter having also produced US Gr1 winner G ypsy's Warning (Mogok) and G2 winner Surabi.