King Montrose Takes Biggest Career Victory

Backing up on his favourite track Karaka Select Sale graduate King Montrose (NZ) has claimed his ninth race victory, his first at stakes level, in the $100,000 Group 3 Lindauer Stewards Stakes (1200m) at Riccarton this afternoon.

Trained and part-owned by Neill Ridley, King Montrose (King’s Chapel x Dorrington) ran a tough race for third in Saturday’s Listed Pegasus Stakes behind Princess Katie, racing just off the pace and staying on well in the final stages.

Today’s Group 3 saw King Montrose dictate terms out in front under jockey Hayden Tinsley and he proved too tough for a good field of horses, beating the late-finishing Vincent Mangano (No Excuse Need) and Group 2 winning sprinter Durham Town (Falkirk) by one-and-a-quarter lengths.

Trainer Neill Ridley was thrilled with the result, rating the win as one of his best as a trainer.

“This result is right up there for me,” commented Ridley. “We weren’t overly confident coming into today’s race but the rain has certainly helped, we had a good barrier and a good jockey.”

“The horse loves racing on the pace, he is an easy horse to ride and he loves Riccarton so it’s a great result.”

Bred by Rodney Schick, Steve Till & Windsor Park Stud, King Montrose was purchased by WE Jeffries Ltd from Windsor Park Stud at New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2007 National Weanling Sale for $26,000.

He was later offered in Timberlee Thoroughbreds’ draft at the 2008 Karaka Select Sale where he was purchased by his trainer Neill Ridley for $25,000.

Raced by Neill Ridley with Bill Rutherford, King Montrose has taken his record to nine wins from 27 starts, six of which have come at Riccarton, for just shy of $150,000 in stakes.