Timely Stakes Win for More Than Ready's Montauk

Mark Smith - Tuesday December 26

With a half-sister by I Am Invincible heading to the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in January, the More Than Ready gelding Montauk could not have picked a better time to open his stakes account.

In an all Vinery Stud finish, Montauk gave country-based jockey Matthew Cahill a rare win in the big smoke when defeating the grand competitors Red Excitement (Excites) and Testashadow (Testa Rossa) in the Group III STC Summer Cup (2000m) at Randwick on Boxing Day.

Mighty Lucky (Casino Prince) made it a first four for Vinery.


It had been 12 starts since the son of More Than Ready (USA) recorded his previous win in a benchmark race at Randwick on February 4.

Always up in the leading division, Montauk outbattled Red Excitement by a half-neck with Testashadow a long-neck back in third. (photo Steve Hart).

The Chris Waller-trained gelding advances his record to 6 wins, 5 seconds and 5 thirds from 36 starts with earnings of $497,990.

"I got caught a bit wide early so I let him roll forward. Glyn Schofield gave me a few tips on him, he said don't annoy him too much so I didn't do that," Cahill said.

"He said he's a funny sort of horse with good ability and it's important to get along with him, no point bashing him.

"He kept sticking his head it for me and got the job done so it was great.

"I don't often get down here so to come and win the main race is wonderful a great Christmas present."

Purchased by Chris Waller Racing/Mulcaster Bloodstock for $190,000 at the 2014 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Montauk is one of six winners from as many to race out of the stakes-winning Octagonal mare Diamond Cove who has had nine consecutive live foals.

Vinery will consign Diamond Cove's I Am Invincible filly (pictured) to the Gold Coast in January, while her latest is colt by Brazen Beau.

Advertisment
More Reading...
World First G1 Success for Rachel King in Japan
Leading Australian jockey Rachel King is no stranger to Group I success, but achieved a first in Japan on Sunday in becoming the first woman to ride a G1 winner on the JRA circuit when steering Costa Nova to victory in the February Stakes (1600m) on the dirt.
Wrote 3YO Impressive on Sunday
Bruce Wallbank describes Midnight Edition as his one-in-a-million horse and the exciting three-year-old gave the Pukekohe horseman plenty to cheer about on his home track on Sunday.
Inglis Premier Preview on Sky This Monday Night
Join Caroline Searcy for an in-depth preview of the 2025 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale Monday night on Sky Thoroughbred Central from 8.30pm.
A Torryburn Gasp Before their Plain Bay Fellow Wins G1 No 4
The Torryburn stud team, watching as they always do when their ‘plain bay fellow’ races, would have had a gasp or two mid race but it ended up as easy as it comes with Voyage Bubble making it three Group I wins from his last three starts in the Hong Kong Gold Cup at Sha Tin on Sunday.
'I always thought he was a seven furlong, miler' - Ka Ying Rising Delivers
If we’re talking turf, Hong Kong can justifiably claim to have the best two horses in the world and Ka Ying Rising cemented his part in that brief with another powerful win in the Group I Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup at Sha Tin on Sunday.
Galileo Blueblood Wins G3 Parramatta Cup for Darby Racing
Scott Darby and his team at Darby Racing have a happy knack for finding real value at a sale and a blueblood three year-old Galileo colt they purchased from Coolmore at the 2022 Tattersalls Horse in Training for Sale for just 60,000 guineas looks very much a horse on the up.
Crossley Thoroughbreds Primed for Premier
Crossley Thoroughbreds is a comparatively new name in the Inglis Premier vendor index having made an eye-catching debut last year when they sold 14 yearlings for $1.7million and Mitch Pearce is ready to go again at Oaklands Junction with an even bigger draft this time around.
How Do You Measure Success?
There are a lot of ways to measure the success of a stallion, but for elite breeders looking to produce serious racehorses it’s all about Black Type horses and this young stallion has really spread his wings.
Written By Puts Begg in Winner’s Circle Again
Grahame Begg is understandably a fan of the progeny of Widden Stud’s Written By, who he trained to win the Group I MRC Blue Diamond Stakes in 2018, and it was one of the stallion’s daughters that had the trainer in the winner’s circle for the first race at Caulfield on Saturday.
Sires With Winners - Sunday February 23
Here is the full list of 73 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.