Master Montaro returns

Impressive debut winner Master Montaro (Toronado {Ire}) will be looking to continue his winning record when he steps out at Sale on Wednesday.

The New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale graduate came from last to amble past his rivals when winning the Kentucky Equine Research Maiden Plate at Pakenham in March.

The 3-year-old gelding was part-owned by a syndicate, which included Woburn Farm principals Adrian Stanley and Hannah Kettlety, who retained a small share in the horse after selling him at the 2018 Ready to Run Sale for NZ$300,000.

After his eye-catching win at Pakenham the son of Toronado (Ire) was the subject of several high-priced offers and eventually sold privately to Hong Kong-based owner Edmond Lee, who intends to race him in his homeland with incoming trainer David Hayes.

Due to the strict Hong Kong Jockey Club rules Master Montaro was not eligible to enter Hong Kong off his current rating so will race again in Australia to boost his rating.

Extra feature races

Racing Queensland has announced additional feature races through June and July.

The G3 Queensland Sapphire S. will be run at Doomben on June 27 ahead of the Listed Bright Shadow at Eagle Farm on July 4 and the Listed Gai Waterhouse Classic at Ipswich on July 18.

In total, a further 10 features have been programmed with the Ipswich Turf Club granted its first opportunity to host black type racing this winter.

With back-to-back meetings at Doomben on June 20 and 27, the feature races move to Eagle Farm on July 4 with the Bright Shadow and a Listed race for 2-year-olds.

The following week the Sunshine Coast Turf Club will run the G3 Winx Guineas for the first time under its new moniker, along with the Listed Glasshouse H.

Finally, Ipswich will host the Listed Eyeliner S. in addition to the Gai Waterhouse Classic on July 18 after successfully returning to racing last month.

Business overhaul

Pukekohe trainer Nigel Tiley is pleased to be back at work, but the COVID-19 lockdown period gave him a chance to ponder what his business might look like as we enter a new normal.

The champion jockey turned trainer is cognisant that businesses through all walks of life have been hit hard and issues facing racing in New Zealand have been exacerbated by the economic impact of the virus.

“I have had to make some pretty tough decisions,” Tiley said. “I don’t know what the prizemoney is going to be next season so Lee (wife) and I took stock of all of our bloodstock.

“We are realistically going to downsize our stock and we are looking at trying to sell-down our interests in some of the horses and race them in Australia."

The 61-year-old has ruled out relocating or setting up a satellite stable in Australia and believed the COVID-19 crisis was an opportunity for racing in New Zealand to redefine itself.

“It’s a time for everybody to reflect on what they want for the future,” Tiley said.

Stackhouse in top form

Daniel Stackhouse has achieved his season’s goal of a century of winners with plenty of time to spare to put him in contention for the Victorian Jockeys’ Premiership.

He is now on 109 winners for the season and three behind pacemaker Jye McNeil.

Stackhouse enjoys support from Lindsay Park, who provided him with most prestigious win so far in 2019/20 when he combined with Minhaaj (Exceed And Excel) to triumph in the G3 Thoroughbred Breeders’ S. at Flemington.

Hot pace suits 4YO

Taking advantage of a scorching pace in front of him, Peter Brant’s Raging Bull (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}) produced a wide move on the far turn and kept on going to dominate the GI Shoemaker Mile S. at Santa Anita, the first Grade I event at the Arcadia oval since it reopened for racing.

The victory in the Win & You’re In event punched Raging Bull’s ticket to the GI Breeders’ Cup Mile.

Winning four of six to start his career as a 3-year-old, including victories in the G2 Hall of Fame S., G3 Saranac S. and Manila S., the 2016 Goffs September buy shipped west to score his previous top-level victory the GI Hollywood Derby at Del Mar in his sophomore finale.

It was his first success as a 4-year-old after finishing fourth in both the GI Maker’s 46 Mile S. and GI Old Forester Turf Classic S., third in the GI Manhattan S., second in the GI Fourstardave H. and fourth, promoted to third, when last seen in the GI Woodbine Mile S. September 14.

Mare strikes again

Keeper Ofthe Stars (USA) (Midnight Lute {USA}), a shock 36-1 winner of the G2 Buena Vista S. last time out, proved that effort was no fluke and overcame a wide draw for a convincing win in the GI Gamely S. at Santa Anita.

Fourth in both the Grade 2 San Clemente S. and GI Del Mar Oaks last summer, the grey annexed the local GIII Autumn Miss S. two starts later and sandwiched a runner-up finish in the local Lady Shamrock S. between sixth-place runs in the GIII Red Carpet H. and GIII Megahertz S.

More respected this time around as the public’s fourth preference, Keeper Ofthe Stars began tardily, but recovered and was soon into third spot. Travelling comfortably in the clear under Abel Cedillo, she took charge in the straight for her seventh career victory.

Winter program

Racing Victoria (RV) and the Seymour Racing Club (SRC) have agreed on a one meeting per month program through the winter to assist in the track’s ongoing development after major works.

A nine-race meeting last week was Seymour’s first since November 2019 when it underwent track renovations.

The race meetings scheduled for Seymour on Thursday, 4 June and Sunday, 26 July have been transferred to Wangaratta and Echuca respectively.

The Seymour meetings scheduled for Thursday, 18 June and Tuesday, 14 July will be conducted as programmed.