On Thursday, Kooringal Stud’s Prized Icon had two progressive first-crop 3-year-olds step up to the plate at Wyong.
Think Big Stud’s Montgomery has been on an upward trajectory as the distances increased and he could not have been more impressive in the Bella Group Maiden Plate over 2100m.
With Zac Lloyd in the saddle for John Thompson, Montgomery was an unhurried fifth in running before Lloyd made a lightning move at the 1000m to set up a three-length lead rounding the home turn.
The favourite Khant Fail (Mongolian Khan) set off in a fruitless chase as Montgomery trotted up by five and three-quarter lengths.
Bred and offered for sale by Newgate, Montgomery was a $145,000 purchase for DGR Thoroughbred Services (FBAA) / John Thompson Racing at the 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
He is the fifth winner from six to race for the stakes-placed General Nediym mare Agueda.
The Tracey Bartley-trained Magicon advanced his record to two wins from three starts with a strong performance in the Mounties Hcp (1600m).
After racing fiercely in the early stages for Lee Magorrian, Magicon looked to be under pressure on straightening but found plenty to win by a widening one and a half lengths from Lease (Choisir) with the odds-on favourite Zerkhan (Real Steal0 back in third.
A homebred for Kooringal Stud and partners, Magicon is the first foal of the winning Magic Albert mare Magic Dust, whose dam Shepishir won the Listed GCTC Goldmarket Handicap is a half-sister to the Group III AJC Southern Cross Stakes winner Marchinski.
With his Group 1 winning ATC Surround Stakes and Group 1 ATC Flight Stakes heroine Tropical Squall leading the way, Prized Icon is the most affordable of the current top ten second crop stallions.
