New Group Three Winner for High Chaparral

Media Release - Saturday March 17

Montoya Star's latest success will prolong her northern campaign.

Montoya Star - Trish DunnellTrainers Michael and Matthew Pitman have changed tack with the daughter of High Chaparral, who added Saturday's Group III Wentwood Grange Cuddle Stakes (1600m) to her burgeoning record.

"We were going to run her at Riccarton next week, but I guess we'll be going to Te Aroha now," Michael Pitman said, referring to the Gr.1 Fiber Fresh New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes (1600m).

An open handicap winner at Hawke's Bay prior to Trentham, Montoya Star settled off the pace but once jockey Michael McNab got the five-year-old into the clear they powered home.

"Every time she's been ridden right – and I'm not criticising anyone – she's won. She has to be smothered up," Pitman said.

Out of the Group One performer Stars In Flight, Montoya Star was a $20,000 Magic Millions National Yearling purchase from the Coolmore draft and the nine-time winner's earnings now stand at $182,972.

"I'm just so rapt with her, she'd been working really well," Pitman said. "We didn't have to pay very much for her and she's a little treasure.

The 110th stakes-winner for High Chaparrral, Montoya Star won by a long head from Symphonic with Flamingo finishing strongly from the tail of the field for third.

The front-runner La Fille En Jeu kicked on gamely to take fourth money ahead of Sleek Secret.

The race was marred 300m from home when Holly Andrew parted company with Bronsteel, the apprentice suffering a dislocated shoulder in the incident. – NZ Racing Desk.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Kiwi Bred Gringotts Wins $3million Big Dance
Talented New Zealand-bred gelding Gringotts(NZ) (Per Incanto) delivered a big payday for his connections with victory in Tuesday’s A$3 million Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick.
Toronado Winner Sign of Things to Come
So You Think and Dundeel have set a high standard for sire sons of the late Epsom Derby winner High Chaparral (IRE) with Swettenham Stud’s Toronado (IRE) also showing the promise of good things to come after making a strong start to the new season with his fifth winner since August 1 at Sale on Thursday.
High Chaparral's Mississippi Delta From Last to First in Perth Cup
The late, great Coolmore stallion High Chaparral (IRE) may have celebrated more prestigious wins in his glittering career but Saturday was a real financial windfall for the son of Sadler’s Wells.
Stampede Runs Then Into The Ground in Colin Stephen
Stampede has been out of the winner’s circle since October last year but when the son of High Chaparral (IRE) is gifted an easy run in front, as he did in Saturday’s Group III Colin Stephen Stakes (2400m) at Randwick, he proves very difficult to get by.
El Vencedor wins G3 Balmerino Stakes
El Vencedor is making a habit of picking up major victories at Ellerslie, adding the Gr.3 Balmerino Stakes (2000m) to his burgeoning record at Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup Day meeting.
$6million Frankel Mare Tops Fasig -Tipton November Sale
The Fasig-Tipton November Sale, billed as the World’s Premier Breeding Stock Event, was held Monday at the company’s Newtown Paddocks in Lexington, Kentucky. Twenty-five offerings sold for $1,000,000 or more, led by a trio of Grade/Group 1 winners with international appeal.
More Stakes Success for Air Assault
Group I placed last season in the SA Derby, talented gelding Air Assault kept the winning run going for Victoria Derby winning trainer Andrew Gluyas when taking out the Listed SAJC John Letts Cup (1800m) at Morphettville on Melbourne Cup Day.
Oaks Winner Strikes Form at Valley
Quality High Chaparral (IRE) mare Princess Jenni won the Group I SAJC Australasian Oaks last season at just her sixth start and showed she will be a force this spring when capturing the Group II MVRC Stocks Stakes at Moonee Valley on Friday night.
All Too Hard's Arran Bay Brave in the Furphy Plate
Phillip Stokes admitted his preference was to run Arran Bay in the Listed John Letts Cup at Morphettville but was overruled by the owners, who made the correct decision in favouring the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) at Flemington.
Kiwi Bred Grey Wins Subzero for OTI at Flemington
New Zealand-bred gelding Cloudland proved a handful for James McDonald at Flemington on Tuesday, but the champion jockey was in a forgiving mood after they had claimed top honours in the Subzero Handicap.