Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Montana D J, a recent arrival from New Zealand and unplaced in stands at his first two appearances in Western Australia, gave an outstanding exhibition of his undoubted class when he romped to a superb victory in the 1730m 7Plus Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Trained by Michael Young and driven by Gary Hall Jnr, Montana D J was great value at $5.90 when he lined up on the inside of the back line.
After a hectic early speed battle between several runners when the opening quarters whizzed by in 27.9sec. and 28.8sec. Montana D J was seventh on the pegs until Hall eased him off the inside at the bell.
He then sustained a spirited sprint out wide to race away and win by two lengths from the fast-finishing $26 chance Bellezza Nera, rating 1.54.9 after final quarters of 29.1sec. and 28.8sec. Sorridere finished a good third, with the $3 favourite Blaze On in fourth place after setting the pace and having little peace in front.
“Montana D J has been a stressful horse,” said Young. “And that’s because he shows me a lot at home, but he galloped in stands and was unplaced at his first two starts for me.
“Owners start doubting what’s going on, so it was good tonight to finally show everyone what he shows me at home. I raced him in stands because he had had five starts in stands in New Zealand and stepped (away safely) in every one.
“Montana D J is still on a low grade, so he has got a lot of races to win before we think about races like the WA Pacing Cup. Horses look good going through the early grades, but he will need to go better to get up to the Free-For-All horses.”
Montana D J raced 30 times in New Zealand for six wins, nine placings and $148,232, with the highlight being his victory in a Group 1 event for two-year-olds over 1700m at Alexandra Park in March 2021.
As a two-year-old he also finished third behind the brilliant Akuta in the Group 1 Sires Stakes at Addington and fourth behind Akuta in the Emerald Classic at Cambridge.
He is by American stallion Captaintreacherous and is the ninth foal out of the brilliant race mare One Dream, who amassed $846,467 from 18 wins and five placings from 23 starts.
As a two-year-old in 2006 One Dream won the Group 1 Sires Stakes Championship for fillies at Franklin, the Group 1 Caduceus Club Classic over 2200m at Alexandra Park when her winning margin was eight lengths, and the Group 1 Australasian Breeders Crown at Ballarat.
As a three-year-old One Dream won two Group 1 events at Addington and Two group 2 races at Alexandra Park. She went on to win two Group 1 features at Alexandra Park as a four-year-old. Her seven Australian starts resulted in five wins and two placings, including a victory in the Group 1 Australian Oaks at Moonee Valley in July 2007.