Three year old Montaigne is set to back up this week and take on the older horses in the Group 1 $1.5m The BMW (2400m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
Montaigne looks set to take on the older horses in The BMW at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.
Trainer Anthony Cummings has reported that Montaigne has pulled up well after finishing second to Australian Derby favourite Tarzino in the Group 1 $600,000 Sky Racing Rosehill Guineas (2000m) at Rosehill last Saturday.
Montaigne will only be having his seventh race start if Cummings decides to take on the older horses at weight for age in The BMW .
“The horse has pulled up the best he has out of any race he’s had so far,” Cummings told Sky Sports Radio.
“He’s nice and bright and well, he’s maintained his weight from the run on Saturday and they’re all the sort of things that need to happen to make these opportunities possible.”
“Its looks probably a more winnable race for him than what the derby may be.”
Montaigne could also take on Tarzino in the Group 1 $2m BMW Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick on April 2, the first day of ‘The Championships’, but Cummings is keen to test the Road To Rock gelding over the mile and a half this week.
“There’s a chance that if a mile and a half is a challenge for him – and on his pedigree it might be – it’s a softer mile and a half at Rosehill than at Randwick,” Cummings said.
“It seems to me like quite a reasonable option and certainly the money’s attractive.”
“You need to weigh up all the different options and opportunities and on face value he looks pretty well placed in this race.”
While Montaigne is only into his first racing preparation, he will be taking on some seasoned stayer in The BMW, including the 2015 Caulfield Cup winner Mongolian Khan, Victoria Derby and multiple Group 1 winner Preferment, 2015 Sydney Cup winner Grand Marshall and 2014 Australian Oaks winner Rising Romance.
In early betting at Ladbrokes.com.au for The BMW Montaigne is listed at $10 alongside of Chris Waller trained Grand Marshall.
Australian Cup winner Preferment sits at the top of the market order at $3.50 ahead of Our Ivanhowe at $4 and Mongolian Khan at $7.
Early BMW market order at Ladbrokes.com.au: $3.50 Preferment, $4 Our Ivanhowe, $7 Mongolian Khan, $8 Rising Romance, Who Shot Thebarman, $10 Grand Marshall, Montaigne, $12 Almoonqith, $18 Magic Hurricane, Storm The Stars, $26 Sir John Hawkwood, Arab Dawn.
