Written by Paul Vettise
Rosehill trainer David Payne isn’t expecting early fireworks from his two-time Group 1 winner Montefilia (Kermadec {NZ}) when she resumes next month.
The 4-year-old furthered her upcoming spring campaign on her home track on Friday morning when she finished runner-up in her Group trial over 1000 metres on a Good 4 surface.
“She has come back well and I’m very pleased with her. She’s going along nicely and needed that trial,” Payne said.
Montefilia, who hasn’t raced since she finished fifth in the G1 ATC Oaks, will return to action in the G2 Chelmsford S. over 1600 metres at Randwick on September 4.
“Her first run will be in the Chelmsford, but she’s only going to be effective until she gets over 2000 metres and further,” Payne said.
Cup entries
Montefilia has been nominated for the G1 Caulfield Cup and the G1 Melbourne Cup and her third-up performance in the G3 Kingston Town S. is likely to decide her feature spring aims.
“We’ve put her in the Cups, but she has to put her hand up if she’s going to go there. She will run in Sydney and after the Chelmsford she will run over 2000 metres and if she is shaping up she will head to Melbourne,” Payne said.
"We’ve put her (Montefilia) in the Cups, but she has to put her hand up if she’s going to go there." - David Payne
“I’ve always believed she’s the type of filly that would improve again at four so I think there’s still good things ahead.”
Montefilia won the G1 Flight S. and the G1 Spring Champion S. last season and placed at the top level in the VRC Oaks and Rosehill Guineas.
Montefilia when winning the G1 Flight S.
She travelled easily in front in her trial for work rider Stuart Rankin and was under a strong hold to finish a close second behind the Chris Waller-trained Dashing Willoughby (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}).
He was a multiple stakes winner in England from Andrew Balding’s stable and finished well back in the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups before transferring to Waller’s team.
Gleneagles impresses
Montefilia’s gifted stablemate Gleneagles (Capitalist) was also in good form and the colt was untroubled to win his 892-metre open heat for Rankin. He settled in third spot before running to the lead before the turn and had 1.37l to spare at the post.
Gleneagles was successful in his first two appearances for Payne before an unplaced run over 1400 metres in the G2 BRC Sires’ Produce S.
“I am going to keep him to the sprints because I don’t think he really gets a trip. He’ll be around the 1000 and 1200-metre mark,” Payne said.
“He raced in Brisbane so it will take a little while before he gets to the races. I’ll see how he is and if he needs another trial or we’ll look for a Rating race for him first-up and see how he does.”
Everest hope coasts home
Team Hawkes’ The Everest contender Masked Crusader (Toronado {Ire}), who broke through at Group 1 level last term to win the William Reid S., cruised home down the outside of the track to win his 900-metre Group heat by 2l under Courtney Van Der Werf.
He is currently an $8 chance in The Everest for slotholders Max Whitby and Neil Werrett.
The Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou-trained Villami (Foxwedge) was runner-up in the trial ahead of High Supremacy (NZ) (Savabeel) with R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Shaquero (Shalaa {Ire}) fourth.
Shaquero’s stablemate Home Affairs (I Am Invincible) had earlier led all the way for Yusuke Ichikawa to win his 900-metre outing to continue his path toward a possible crack at the G1 Golden Rose S.
Waller also produced the former Stephen Marsh-trained mare Atishu (NZ) (Savabeel) to lengthen stride well in the closing stages for a 1030-metre heat success. She won her last two starts in Listed company for syndicator Go Racing before relocating to Sydney.
