A luckless run behind a potential star last outing has trainer David Pfieffer extolling the winning chances of Monte Ditto at Rosehill.
Pfieffer said Saturday’s 1200 metres Benchmark 78 event shaped as the perfect race for Monte Ditto.
At his last start Monte Ditto unleashed his customary late burst to run fourth behind All Time Legend at Randwick on Boxing Day.
“It was a good, solid run last start, he got held up for a fraction near the turn and that probably cost him a length and a spot in the placings, but it was a super effort,” Pfieffer said.
“Wide gates and his pattern of racing have brought him undone in the past but the horse can reel off some very good sectionals when it all goes right.”
The Group-One winning trainer described the five-year-old son of Zoustar as a very professional and low maintenance stallion who was easy to handle and had a good attitude to racing.
“His work was great on Tuesday and I expect him to be right in the mix again on Saturday,” Pfieffer said.
“The good gate (barrier five) will be a real asset.”
Jason Collett is back in the saddle and the gun New Zealand jockey knows how to get the job done on Monte Ditto.
Collett has ridden the horse eleven times in 21 starts, including his most recent victory on the Randwick-Kensington track last month.
“It’s always a positive to have someone riding that knows your horse.” Pfieffer said.
Monte Ditto is raced in a syndicate managed by eminent bloodstock agent and successful owner Anton Koolman, who has been a long-time associate of the Pfieffer stable.
“Anton has been a wonderful supporter of the stable and he’s a wealth of knowledge.” He said.
Pfieffer, who has about forty horses in work, is also excited about the chances of honest mare Yamazaki who goes around in the $1 million Magic Millions Open on the Gold Coast Coast this Saturday.
“It’s been her target for some time now and it was always the plan to get her there second-up,” he said.
“It’s been four weeks since she had her last run but we gave her a quiet trial and she’s a winner up there. I expect her to go very well.”
