A brother to the undefeated, Hong Kong bound, Master Montaro, three-year-old Toronado (IRE) colt Wise Counsel opened his winning account at his third start over 1600m at Caulfield on Saturday.
Ridden by Jye McNeil for trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, Wise Counsel avoided a lot of traffic problems that beset a good deal of his major dangers to defeat Divine Diosa (Teofilo) by a half-length with the luckless Queen Of Rocks (Fastnet Rock) three-quarters of a length back in third.
The son of Toronado (IRE) was not beaten all that far when unplaced at his first two starts at Geelong and had plenty of support here with his weight advantage.
“We’ve always had a nice opinion of him, it’s taken a bit of time to get him to the track and get a few runs in as he had a nasty injury at the back-end as a two-year-old,” Eustice said.
“He’s ahorse that warrants going in to a Derby Trial and a UCI (stakes), which would be a nice race for him as he would relish Flemington. The you have the Caulfield classic so we will put him on that path now and see how he comes through
Purchased by Stuart Hale for $250,000 out of the Hallmark Stud draft at the 2019 NZB Karaka yearling Sale, Wise Counsel races for a syndicate that includes his breeder, Adam Sangster’s Swettenham Stud, and Sir Patrick Hogan.
He is a brother to Master Montaro and a half-brother to Modoc (Haradasun) who placed in the MRC Inglis 2YO Premier (RL) and Group II ATC Skyline Stakes.
Reportedly sold for $1,500,000 to Hong Kong connections following his career debut win at Pakenham, Master Montaro booked his ticket for Hong Kong with another hugely impressive performance over 1140m at Geelong on May 29.
From a family nurtured by Gooree Stud, Wise Counsel’s dam Circus Polka (Stravinsky) is a half-sister to the group 1 VRC Victoria Derby and Group 1 ATC Champagne Stakes winner Prized Icon (More Than Ready) as well as the Group III winners Matras (Zabeel) and Romantic Moon (More Than Ready).
There is plenty more to come as Circus polka has a 2yo filly and a yearling colt by Toronado (IRE).
She was covered by Highland Reel (IRE) last spring.
