It’s Spring, So Start Thinking High Chaparral

Tara Madgwick - Sunday September 3
When spring is in the air it's always the time to go looking for a High Chaparral (IRE) three year-old on the up.

Trained by Stuart Kendrick, High Chaparral colt Rancho Montoya put his hand up as a spring contender after powering over the opposition in the Class Three Plate over 1615 metres at Doomben on Saturday to win by half a length.

High ChaparralKendrick plans to take the colt to Melbourne and it is likely he will target the Group III MRC Caulfield Classic (2000m) in October, a race which is a traditional Victoria Derby lead-up.

Kendrick had Rancho Montoya in the stable for 14 months before he unleashed him with a runaway win at Ipswich in June when he earned 'One to Watch' status on Breednet, but the Doomben win was his first city triumph after two recent placings in town over unsuitable shorter trips.

Kendrick will wait and see how the colt pulls up but the owners are extremely keen for a Melbourne mission.

"He looks like a stayer, all he wants to do is stay and stay and stay," Kendrick said.

"He loomed up at Doomben today and then really ground it out.

"He is a beautiful looking colt and the further he goes the better he will get."

"There is still a lot of developing he needs to do but it is hard to ignore some of these good Melbourne races."

A $70,000 Magic Millions purchase for Ezybonds No 1 Syndicate from the Baramul stud draft, Rancho Montoya was bred by Gerry Harvey and is a half-brother to Group III winner Bid Spotter.

Rancho Montoya is the ninth winner from 11 foals to race from Sir Tristram (IRE) mare Isolda, who scored a memorable win over Octagonal to win the Group I AJC Champagne Stakes in 1995.

Isolda passed away last year and Rancho Montoya is her last foal.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Ghaiyyath 3yo Different Gravy Dominates Listed TAB Trophy
With jockey Mark Zahra in sensational form so far during the Melbourne Cup carnival, it was the Henry Dwyer trained Ghaiyyath 3yo Different Gravy who gave the leading jockey his sixth win from just nine rides so far, charging from back in the field to win the Listed $200,000 VRC TAB Trophy (1800m) on Tuesday.
Amo Racing Swoop on $6.2Million Mare at Fasig Tipton November Sale
The Fasig-Tipton November Sale, held Monday at the Newtown Paddocks in Lexington, Kentucky, lived up to its billing as the World’s Premier Breeding Stock Event with a lively session of trade in which the sales exceeded $100million for the fourth time in the past five years and featured an amazing 27 mares that sold for $1million or more.
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.
G1 Melbourne Cup Victory As Half Yours And Jamie Melham Dominate
Growing up, jockey Jamie Melham dreamed of riding in the time-honoured Group 1 VRC Melbourne Cup (3200m), and on the first Tuesday of November at Flemington she created her own piece of history when becoming the first female jockey to win the Group 1 Caulfield Cup-Melbourne Cup double aboard Tony and Calvin McEvoy’s Half Yours.
Cup Day Stakes-Winner for Godolphin and Waller
Champion trainer Chris Waller has already tasted success with the Godolphin horses since the start of the new season and added a new stakes-winner in the famed blue silks at Flemington on Cup Day when three year-old colt Burma Star took out the Listed VRC Amanda Elliott Stakes (1400m).
Too Darn Hot’s Tornado Valley Captures G3 Maribyrnong Plate
With race experience on his side, having finished third on debut when beaten a length in the Listed MRC Debutant Stakes (1000m), the Ciaron Maher trained 2yo colt Toronado Valley (Too Darn Hot) kicked off Melbourne Cup day with victory in the $240,000 Group 3 VRC Darley Maribyrnong Plate (1200m).
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.
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.
Big Payday for High Chaparral's A Man To Match
No black-type but a Group 1 prize for the connections of the High Chaparral (IRE) gelding A Man To Match who not only pocketed the $145,000 winners cheque as the inaugural winner of the $250,000 The Tab Wave (1800m) at the Gold Coast but had it topped off with another $200,000 for being a Magic Millions graduate.
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.