Monmouth chases legend
LIGHTLY raced three-yearold gelding Monmouth broke through for a deserved win in Launceston on Sunday.
The Edwin Batt-trained gelding came from well back in the field to score comfortably from Seize Them All and Princess of York over 1400m.
It was an emphatic victory and one that pleased his trainer.
“I’ve always had a good opinion of this horse. In fact I thought he was a Tassie Derby horse but he cut his leg just before Christmas and I had to tip him out,” Batt said.
“I have no doubt that when he gets out in distance he will be a nice horse.”
The gelded son of Pendragon is well named.
The horse’s stable name is Geoffrey and that came about from his racing name of Monmouth, which is from Geoffrey of Monmouth, who is presumed to be a biblical historian who published writings on King Arthur, whose family name was Pendragon.
“I think a horse’s name is important and should have some meaning and that is definitely the case with Monmouth.”
Monmouth is a graduate of a ready-to-run sale in Sydney.
“Brendan McShane [fellow trainer] and I were invited to attend a ready-to-run sale in NSW and it was all laid on — airfares and all the trimmings but we both bought horses we couldn’t really afford.
“I paid $11,000 for this horse, which was more than I expected to fork out, but the horse he has become could make him an inexpensive purchase.”
Batt says he will step Monmouth up in distance but it will be a gradual process. TOORAK AFFAIR made it successive wins on the Launceston circuit with a dominant victory in a benchmark 70 handicap over 1600m.
The four-year-old mare was coming off a narrow win in a benchmark 68 event 18 days earlier but despite stepping up in grade she made light of her task.
She was well ridden by Hayley McCarthy who had the mare settled just better than midfield and while she was three-wide to the home turn she had cover and the mare was always travelling like the winner.
“This mare has struck top form and while she’s in this frame of mind I am loath to tip her out,” Blacker said.
“I didn’t look beyond today’s race so I’ll have to see if there are any suitable races coming up but when mares find this sort of form they usually keep winning.” LITTLE PUMBA broke through for his second win with a last-stride lunge securing him victory in a class one handicap over 1200m.
The Chester Roach-trained five-year-old was having only his eighth start and is proving to be a handy money-spinner for connections. His stake earnings are $26,000 but could easily have been double had the geld- ed son of West Quest had luck go his way in a couple of races.
Roach is a hobby trainer with one or two horses in work at any one time.