Promising three-year-old Rancho Montoya is set to embark on his first staying campaign when he resumes at Doomben.
There are few better bred horses in Queensland than Rancho Montoya who is by High Chaparral out of the Group One winning mare Isolda who beat Octagonal in the 1995 Champagne Stakes.
He is the last of Isolda’s offspring which includes the Group Three winner Bid Spotter.
Trainer Stuart Kendrick believes Rancho Montoya has the breeding and racing style to make a stayer of a high grade.
He has entered the colt in two 1350m-races at Doomben on Saturday and expects to run him in the Class Three Plate in which he will be suited by the set weights.
“The race is over 1350 metres and it is the perfect way for him to kick off. From there we can up his distances to 1600 and further,” Kendrick said.
“He races like a stayer with his neck low and stretched out and he grinds to the line in his races.”
Kendrick is hoping Rancho Montoya might develop into an Australian Derby or Queensland Derby horse.
“But there is a good way to go yet and we will just get over Saturday first,” he said.
Rancho Montoya was one of 25 entries taken on Monday for the Class Trhee Plate and among 13 in the 3YO Handicap.
Kendrick intends to press on with a southern trip for filly Italia Bella, an unlucky second in a maiden at Doomben last Friday.
“The winner (Shesees Everything) is pretty smart and probably should have won the Magic Millions Maiden,” Kendrick said.
“She had a perfect run up on the pace and we were three and four deep the whole way. When Shesees Everything kicked on the home turn I knew we were in trouble.”
“But Italia Bella kept coming and she does want a further trip than 1200 metres.”
