Co-trainer Troy Corstens has revealed that Montoya’s Secret will not take her place in Saturday’s 2017 Australian Oaks field after suffering a minor ailment in work at the team’s Flemington base.
Montoya’s Secret (inside) will not take her place in Saturday’s Australian Oaks field. Photo: Steve Hart
Montoya’ Secret has produced a number of impressive performances and results through her short racing career to date, but undoubtedly reached a new level when she stormed home to win the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) on March 25th.
Corstens told Racing Victoria that the High Chaparral filly’s campaign is anything by a lost cause and she will instead be set for the Group 1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) in South Australia on May 6th.
“She’s given the back of her leg a whack, there’s some filling in there and we’ve had to treat her,” Corstens said.
“She had a couple of quiet days, has missed some major gallops and you can’t go into a 2400-metre Group 1 with that being the case.
“It’s far from terrible, just annoying more than anything.”
Montoya’s Secret debuted to racing for fifth in the Phar Lap Club Plate (1100m) at Flemington in May last year and was returned to the paddock after finishing second in each of the Pat Hyland Plate (1400m) and Ladbrokes.com.au Handicap (1300m).
Resuming in spring for fourth in a Geelong minor over 1300m, Montoya’s Secret was somewhat inconsistent through two proceeding starts and was sent to the paddock after finishing fifth in the Red Rock Deli Plate (1700m) on Crown Oaks Day.
Returning to the race for a close second in a 1200m race at Moonee Valley on February 10th, Montoya’s Secret broke through for a maiden race win in the Monacellars Maiden Plate (1400m) on March 2nd, before repeating the dose in the Jeep City Hawk BM64 (1600m); this time by close to five lengths.
In what was incredibly her first appearance in a black type race, Montoya’s Secret weaved through the field in the final straight at Rosehill Gardens; maintaining a strong-enough sprint to beat Nurse Kitchen on the line in the Vinery Stud Stakes.
The 2017 Australasian Oaks field and barrier draw is due to be completed and released by midday, Tuesday (April 4th).
