Monton’s form around one of Sydney’s best racehorses has trainer Ron Quinton confident of another big return to racing from the sprinter-miler at Warwick Farm.
Group winner Monton resumes in Saturday’s Listed Show County Quality (1200m) where he’ll shoulder 60.5kg.
Group winner Monton resumes in Saturday's Listed Show County Quality (1200m) where he'll shoulder 60.5kg
While it’s a significant weight, the impost doesn’t worry Quinton.
Monton has a strong first-up record which includes a gallant second to glamour mare More Joyous in the Canterbury Stakes (1300m) at weight-for-age last campaign.
“That was a huge run that day,” Quinton said.
“Taking that run on board he’s got to run very well in a race like that tomorrow.”
Monton was well-beaten in his two subsequent autumn starts but Quinton believes a long-sustained run to challenge More Joyous took a lot out of the horse.
The gelding, a winner of the Group Two Villiers last year, is being aimed at the Group One Epsom Handicap (1600m) and Quinton felt the Show County (1200m) was a better starting point than the weight-for-age Warwick Stakes over 1400m.
“The weight doesn’t really bother me,” he said.
“In days gone by horses would carry that weight when the limit weight was much less. He’s a big, strong older horse so I’m not too worried about it.”
Monton will spearhead Quinton’s small spring carnival team after the retirement of Group One-winning mare Ofcourseican.
Crafty Irna is Quinton’s other Group One hopeful with the mare to kick-off a campaign aimed at The Metropolitan (2400m) in Saturday’s Listed Toy Show Quality (1300m).
Crafty Irna will be joined in the race by stablemate Irish Dream who is on another stakeswinning mission after breaking through two starts back in the Listed Winter Stakes (1400m).
