Astute
trainer David Payne has high hopes for his progressive gelding Momentum Factor,
who cast off maiden status with a strong finishing win at Warwick Farm on
Wednesday.
A $65,000 Inglis Classic purchase for his trainer from the Middlebrook Valley Lodge
draft, Momentum Factor kicked off his career with a fifth in the $250,000
Inglis Classic won by The Enzo, before chasing home classy colts Aylmerton and
Roosevelt in subsequent runs when fourth and third at Canterbury and Warwick
Farm.
For this 1100 metre maiden, Momentum Factor had race fitness and experience on
his side which proved enough to down the favourite Adana, a $1.1 million son of
Snitzel.
Momentum Factor hit the line hard from back in the field to win by a neck and
his trainer believes he is looking for further.
"He's still doing a bit wrong, but I can't wait to step him up to a mile," said
Payne.
"He was only a cheapie, but he looks like he's going places. We'll have a look
at the Fernhill (Group III over 1600m on April 14 ) over the carnival for him."
Momentum Factor is a half-brother to stakes-winner Terror Force and is the
fourth winner from four to race from Tale of the Cat (USA) mare Angel's Breath, who has been catalogued for sale at the Inglis Australian Broodmare Sale next month as Lot 538 and is in foal to another of the Newgate sires in Foxwedge.
He is the second Australian winner for Newgate Farm's handsome grey shuttler
The Factor (USA), a son of champion sire War Front.