Skye Bogenhuber lifts The Monstar to big win

Jockey Skye Bogenhuber’s affinity with spirited gelding The Monstar has given her a first Group Two win in the Moreton Cup at Caloundra.

In a driving finish, The Monstar ($5) held on to beat Plantinum Angel ($4.20) by a long neck, with a short half-head to Calanda ($7.50) in third place.

The win on Saturday was also Bogenhuber’s first Group-standard ride and her best effort in more than a decade of riding following her wins on her home track in the then-Listed Toowoomba Cup and the Listed Weetwood Handicap.

Bogenhuber had a stint in Perth but returned to Toowoomba about six months ago, where she has been riding a steady stream of winners.

But she wasn’t out of the mind of Scone trainer Brett Cavanough, who used her extensively when he had a stay in Toowoomba in 2016.

When he was looking for a jockey for The Monstar, he had no hesitation in calling Bogenhuber, who had ridden the gelding four times for two wins and two placings.

Cavanough wasn’t at Caloundra on Saturday but stable representative Steph Alexander said the trainer had a lot of time for Bogenhuber.

The Monstar will head back to Scone but could be back in Queensland if rain returns.

“We came up here chasing a wet track and got one today. If it rains, I reckon Brett will have him up here again smartly,” Alexander said.

The Monstar lifted his prize money to $730,000 from 12 wins, which is a great effort for a horse who has a reputation of being hard to handle.

“But he was great today and we were able to walk him around before the race and he was in a good mood,” Alexander said.

Bogenhuber said it had just been a thrill to get a chance in a Group Two race but an even bigger one to win one.

Jim Byrne on Calanda protested against Jeff Lloyd on Platinum Angel, alleging interference in the final 100m of the 1200m race, but it was quickly dismissed.

Both said they had their chance to beat the winner but he had been too strong.