Five-time Group 1 winner Montefilia (+220) stormed away with the $2 million prize packet on Saturday afternoon in the Group 2 Hill Stakes (1900m) at Rosehill.
It was an astonishing finish by the six-year-old mare, who was idling worse than midfield, turning for home under Nash Rawiller before swallowing up her rivals in the shadows of the post.
Mount Popa (+10000) and Hoo Ya Mal (+380) ensured a genuine galloper throughout the 1900m and were always going to leave some back markers coming into play.
Initially, it seemed Hoo Ya Mal had pinched a big enough break with 200m to run; however, Protagonist ($6.50) slipped up the rail to cause a grandstand finish before Montefilia produced her scintillating best to snag the prize.
Stable representative Charlie Duckworth spoke post-race on behalf of the Chris Waller team and gave huge credit to former trainer David Payne for how well he’d initially kept up this well-tried galloper.
“It’s obviously a credit really to David Payne leaving plenty of horse left in her,” said Duckworth.
“Everyone is so conscious of longevity nowadays and making sure you’re retiring sound horses and not breaking their hearts. There was obviously some still left in the locker but she’s achieved great things.
“We’re just thrilled obviously to reward Yulong with offering us the opportunity to train such a great mare and it’s great for the racing public to see these mares continue to race on.
“Where we go from here is up to Chris (Waller), he can work that problem out but it’s a nice problem to have and it’s been on a Good 4 track too so she not obviously dependant on that ground.”
Nash Rawiller was very confident in the motor he had underneath him and alluded to that in his post-race assessment.
“If there was another 100m she wins by three and a half or four (lengths),” said Rawiller.
“She was motoring that last 100m.
“She’s a big horse; she quickened well. I felt we were able to sneak through ok, I don’t know how the replay looked but it felt that way. I thought I’ll take my time.
“It’s a fine line between keeping them balanced, keeping momentum at such a crucial stage of the race and try not to cause interference. Full credit to her, she got herself up off the deck and get there.”
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