Magic required for Montoya's Secret at Moonee Valley

Darryl Sherer - Tuesday September 26

Group I winner Montoya's Secret is nominated for two races at Moonee Valley on Friday night and co-trainer Troy Corstens has decided which one the mare will contest and who will ride.

Joao Moreira. Photo: HKJC

Last season's Group I Vinery Stud Stakes winner had the option of the Group III JRA Cup or the Group II Stocks Stakes.

Corstens, who trains Montoya's Secret in partnership with his father Leon, will run her against her own sex over the shorter trip.

"They are both worth the same but the Stocks is a Group II for mares, plus I want to give her one more run at the mile before we step her up in trip," Corstens said.

Montoya's Secret was beaten under four lengths when finishing eighth behind Hell Or Highwater last time out in the Listed Heatherlie Stakes over 1700m at Caulfield on September 2.

Corstens took the opportunity to take Montoya's Secret to gallop at Moonee Valley on Monday and was delighted he did.

"With that little bit of rain overnight she just loved the more forgiving surface there and she's come out of it really well," Corstens said.

"Her two runs back have been ok but not as good as we'd hoped. She just doesn't let down properly on a hard track and I'm putting the last start down to the track.

"I'm using the track as an excuse but I could be wrong, it might be that she just hasn't come up but we'll find out on Friday.''

With regular rider Noel Callow suspended, Corstens has been able to secure an able substitute.

"We've booked Joao Moreira to ride. We were able to get the Magic Man and thought why not use the best in the world?" Corstens said.

"Friday night is the fork in the road for the preparation and she needs to run well."


 
Advertisment
More Reading...
Verdi's Gritty Goldman wins Pakenham Cup
One-time Melbourne Cup favourite Goldman has bounced back to winning form for the first time in more than 18-months when leading throughout to score in the Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m) on Saturday.
First Stakes success for Savabeel's Gold Bullion
Four-year-old gelding Gold Bullion dug deep to stave off all challengers when leading throughout to land the Listed Seven Members Mile (1600m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday for trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.
No Shock in Supernova
The good times keep on rolling for connections of winning machine Here To Shock(NZ) (Shocking) who plundered the inaugural A$1 million Supernova at Pakenham over his favoured 1400m distance for trainers Ben, Will and JD Hayes.
Arriving Home Goes Two for Two – Three-Quarter Brother for MM 2025
Talented I Am Invincible filly Arriving Home does her best work on the line and we saw it when she scored on debut at Warwick Farm earlier this month and again when she got there in the last stride to win at Randwick on Saturday.
Another Stakes Win For This Burly Enigma - Leave The Whip At Home
Enigmatic is a word often bandied about in racing but it certainly sits well upon the ample shoulders of Cannonball, a big odds winner of the Listed Magic Millions Falvelon at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Sires With Winners - Saturday December 21
Here is the full list of 95 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Stakes Racing Catalogue Updates Last Week
A dozen stakes updates in the past week into catalogues for yearlings coming up.
Four MM Lead Ups for Icarian Dream - what are the stats?
Two-year-old filly Icarian Dream’s win in the B.J. McLachlan Stakes at Eagle Farm on Saturday will see her head into the Magic Millions 2YO Classic having had four starts before year’s end, which might seem a lot in this day and age – but is it? We’ve had a look.
Zoustar Mare Wins for Te Akau - Half-Brother for K1
Consistent sprinting mare Egyptian Queen was rewarded for a string of solid performances at Te Rapa on Saturday, powering away with the Lodge Real Estate 1200.
Is He the Next Via Sistina or Buckaroo?
The Fastnet Rock x Galileo cross is a formidable one and has produced this spring’s elite Group I winners Via Sistina (IRE) and Buckaroo (GB) with another lightly raced import bred the same way in Gilded Water (GB) going two for two in Australia with a cavalier win at Randwick on Saturday.