Monaco Makes His Mark

Ill-fated High Chaparral (IRE) has some outstanding sons at stud this spring including champion gallopers So You Think, Dundeel and Toronado (IRE), but his dual Group I winner Monaco Consul is the first of his sire sons to have runners and a brilliant win at Doomben on Saturday for promising three year-old filly Honesta shows he's headed in the right direction.

With three first crop two year-old winners last season and two place-getters from just 12 runners, Monaco Consul has been showing good promise as a sire, for a horse that won the Group I VRC Victoria Derby (2500 metres) and Spring Champion Stakes (2000 metres).

With his oldest progeny now three year-olds, more is to be expected and Monaco Consul has wasted no time in kicking his first goal of the season.

The John Thompson trained filly Honesta was sent out a hot favourite for the 1600 metre open three year-old handicap and powered to the line to win running away by more than three lengths.

Fourth and then third at her two previous starts, the talented grey is a filly on the way up with many more wins in stores as she steps out over further.

Stable foreman Glen Thompson was impressed with the win.

"She can really hit the line hard and she will get further than today," he said.

"She wasn't well in at the weights today as a maiden filly against some of the colts who had won a race and it made the win even better."

A $20,000 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale purchase for part-owner Greg de Vries from the Patinack Farm draft, Honesta has already won over $54,000 in prizemoney and is the first winner for Always Loyal, a half-sister by Bradbury's Luck to stakes-winner Biggles.

Further back it's the family of countless Group I winners including Chief Contender, Spinning World, Denon and Good Journey, so Honesta lacks for nothing on the pedigree front and has a full season of Oaks races ahead of her!

After starting his stud career with Patinack Farm, Monaco Consul has now been relocated to the Hunter Valley and will stand this spring at Kings Creek Stud in the care of Adam Cook and Michael Hewitt.

He brings a mix of appealing bloodlines to the Hunter being by a Sadler's Wells Epsom Derby winner in High Chaparral from one of New Zealand's finest female families that has also given us successful sires Military Plume and Nicconi, who finished in the Top 3 Australian Second Season Sires for 2014/2015 by earnings and winners.

With 'classic' good looks to match his 'classic' pedigree Monaco Consul is priced affordably at $8,800.