It’s been some day at Randwick for prominent owner Neville Morgan whose colours were carried to victory by Shaquero in the Group III Breeders’ Plate and Kolding in the Group II Hill Stakes and while the Group 1 Darley Flight Stakes winner Montefilia didn’t sport his silks the David Payne-trained filly did become the first stakes-winner for Morgan’s dual Group 1 winner Kermadec.
In what was billed as a match race between the old foes Dame Giselle and Hungry Heart, Montefilia came with a barnstorming finish under Hugh Bowman to defeat Hungry Heart (Frankel) by a half-neck with Vangelic (Vancouver) two lengths back in third.
Montefilia was due to head to Melbourne for the Victoria Oaks but Payne said the filly would stay in Sydney and take on the boys in next weeks Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes before heading for a spell.
“At her last run she had just come out of the paddock and had a winter coat. I said to Hughie she is a couple of lengths better today,” Payne said.
Our original plan was the Oaks but when she won that mile, I thought we may as well have a go up to the mile. So, we ran her in the Tea Rose to get her here. Now that she has won the Group 1 we don’t have to worry about going to Melbourne.
“She will back up next week then head to the paddock.”
Montefilia was offered twice by Tyreel Stud, bringing $62,000 as a weanling at the 2018 Great Southern Sale, then selling to Payne Racing for $130,000 at the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
She is the best of three winners from four to race out of the imported, stakes-placed, Shirocco mare Bana Wu (GB) whose dam My Way (Marju) is a half-sister to multiple Group II winner Strategic Prince.
Purchased by S Duke for $92,000 when carrying a Shalaa (IRE) colt. Which was purchased by Ciaron Maher Racing for $160,000 out of the Shadow Hill Thoroughbreds draft at this year’s Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale, Bana Wu has a yearling colt by Ribchester (IRE) before missing to that stallion last year.
Montefilia comes from the first Group by Teofilo’s dual Group 1 winner Kermadec who stands at Darley Stud this season at a fee of $13,750.
