The David Payne-trained Montefilia emerged as a star of the future with a brilliant win in Saturday’s Gr1 Flight Stakes at Randwick.
In steaming down the outside to the delight of champion jockey Hugh Bowman, Montefilia was able to lead home a trifecta clean sweep for fillies sold as yearlings at the Gold Coast.
In beating the better fancied fillies with punters, Montefilia realised her potential after emerging as a likely group galloper with an eye catching win at Rosehill in August.
At her recent first up run the Kermadec filly ran a closing fourth behind Dame Giselle in the Group Two Tea Rose Stakes.
There’s a chance the tough filly could back up in seven days and take on the boys in the Gr1 Spring Champion Stakes.
“Depending on how she pulls up we will back her up next week,” winning trainer David Payne told Racenet. “Then she will go to the paddock.
“She’s a laid back filly, she eats well, so she won’t have to do too much this week.”
“We’ll just see how she is in the next few days,” Payne added.
The win was the first Saturday success for Bowman since a lengthy suspension and he was relieved to win while sending thoughts to the injured Andrew Adkins.
“I’m so proud of the horse,” a triumphant Hugh Bowman said. “David has a high opinion of her obviously.”
“The slowly run 1400 (of the Tea Rose) – she was just outsprinted and I thought there was a lot of credit in her run.”
“I was rubbing my hands together down the back straight,” Bowman added. “It’s just great to be back in the winner’s circle and I’m so proud for David.”
Payne went to $130,000 to secure the star filly from the Tyreel Stud draft at the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
She is the first Gr1 winner for Kermadec and is from a stakes performed daughter of Shirocco.
Kermadec, who was trained during his career by Chris Waller, won four races during his career – three at group level headlined with victories in the Doncaster Handicap and George Main Stakes.
Montefilia is a member of Kermadec’s first crop. Her dam Bana Wu was an international winner and earned black type three times in the UK. She was also fourth in a Group Two and Group Three.
Bana Wu is the dam of four named foals, all have raced and three are already winners. Montefilia is her star performer to date.
- Winner: Montefilia
- Breeding: Kermadec-Bana Wu (Shirocco)
- Race: ATC Flight Stakes Gr1 (1600m)
- Sold for: A$130,000
- Sale: 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale
- Vendor: Tyreel Stud
- Buyer: Payne Racing
- Earnings: A$420,925
- Owner(s): Ms CL Vincent, Ms K Docherty & Mrs LB Paligorov
- Trainer: David Payne (Rosehil)
