Toronado four year-old Master Montaro kicked his promising career off in style with am emphatic victory on International Day to keep his unbeaten record intact.
Purchased for Hong Kong for a reported $1.5million after an easy debut win at Pakenham for the Richard Laming stable back in March, he was subsequently transferred to Lindsay Park who had to run him again in order to lift his rating to qualify for the move overseas.
Sent to Geelong in May he subsequently did that in style with a three length win prompting rider Michael Walker to tell racing.com:
"That's one of the best horses I've ever ridden."
"He's an absolute machine.
"His stride is so big; he just picks them up so easy."
"I told them that they're buying a star and I still think he is after that.
"He gives me the feel of a miler, he takes ground off them just like that."
Sent out a short-priced favourite for the Hong Kong debut on Sunday he gave plenty of start but as per Walker’s prediction he did indeed pick them up easily to score running away.
Purchased for $80,000 originally from the Swettenham Stud draft by Woburn Farm at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale in Melbourne, Master Montaro was sent around again at the NZB Ready Run Sale where Laming paid $300,000.
His 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).
A full brother to Master Montaro was purchased by Stuart Hale for $250,000 out of the Hallmark Stud draft at the 2019 NZB Yearling Sale at Karaka.
Racing as Wise Counsel he is also showing promise after a mile victory at Caulfield at his third start for the Maher/Eustace stable in October.
