Lindsay Park’s Vancouver filly Montia made an impressive career debut over 1200 metres at Moonee Valley on Friday to kick-start what could be an exciting weekend for her dam Pontiana whose 3yo son Dragon Leap (Pierro) is favourite to win Saturday’s Group 1 NZ Derby at Ellerslie.
With Regan Bayliss in the saddle, Montia enjoyed a charmed run one out and one back and looked the winner a long way from home.
When given a shake up the daughter of Golden Slipper winner Vancouver bounded away to win by two and three-quarter lengths from the Pride Of Dubai filly Miss Kingston with a short-half-head back to the Cluster filly Hellion Of Cluster in third.
Next weeks VRC Sires Produce Stakes may come up a bit quick but races like the ATC Sires Produce Stakes and Champagne Stakes may come under consideration for Montia.
“It was fantastic to see her so strong through the line and she will just get better over further,” co-trainer Ben Hayes said.
“Regan has not let any other jockey ride her. He comes in every morning she gallops, he loves her, so it’s good for him to get the reward.
“Looking at her parading around today she is a lovely, long, lengthy filly and she has a lot of maturing to do so it wouldn’t surprise me if she is a good 1400m to mile plus.
“The way she won she will be running in a stakes race somewhere but I Don’t know where.
“We will see how she pulls up sometimes these two-year-olds can get a bit shinny.
A homebred for Greg Ingham, Lindsay Maxsted and partners, Montia is the third winner from four to race out of the stakes-placed Redoute’s Choice mare Pontiana who, besides the Group II Auckland Guineas and Avondale Guineas winner Dragon Leap is the dam of Chatswood Stud’s Group 1 ATC Randwick Guineas winner Inference (So You Think) who placed in the Victoria Derby and Rosehill Guineas.
A sister to Listed winner Grand Jardin, Pontiana has a full-brother to Inference in the Coolmore draft heading to the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. Lot 139.
After missing to I Am Invincible in 2018, Pontiana was covered by the champion Yarraman Park stallion again last spring.
Montia is the second winner for Coolmore Stud’s Golden Slipper winner Vancouver who could be in for a big weekend himself with his ATC Breeders’ Plate runner-up Postcode one of the leading chances in Saturday’s Group II Skyline Stakes at Randwick and debut winner Vangelic running in a Listed race at Flemington.
