Two-year-old trotting filly Monterey Lass broke maiden ranks on Tuesday when scoring an upset win over the hot favourite Justabitlikethis, stepping cleanly and then never headed over the 2138 metre journey.
Placed in the first three starts of her career, the filly was able to capitalise on her excellent manners to lead throughout and hold off the odds-on favourite.
A graduate of the inaugural Sunshine Stars Yearling Sale, Monterey Lass is the second trotting winner produced from the sale and the 20th winner overall.
The efforts of the sale vendors to present quality horses has been reflected in the statistics produced as the horses continue to hit the track.
From 138 catalogued yearlings, there have been 20 winners, a further 38 have raced, another 14 have qualified to race and a further 17 have been to the education or ‘green’ trials.
That is 89 of the 138 catalogued have appeared on the track, just over half-way through the season.
Monterey Lass was a $25,000 purchase by Daniel Cordina, the Up And Quick filly consigned for the 2023 Sunshine Stars sale by her breeder, Trump Bloodstock.
Out of the mare Black Mamba Cheval, the filly is a half sister to Cordina’s Group winning two-year-old trotter, Agent Black, which is also prepared by Graham and at three was placed third in the New South Wales Derby.
Monterey Lass as a yearling
Starting her career in the first two-year-old trotters race of the season in early June, Monterey Lass was runner-up to the talented Why Tanya Sue, before again claiming second place behind that filly at her second start.
Adding another minor placing at start number three when third behind fellow Sunshine Stars Sale graduate Laydownluna, Monterey Lass was four-weeks between runs heading into Tuesday’s assignment.
Showing safe manners from the tapes as she had done in all three previous starts, the filly was quickly into stride, with the field of six soon splitting into two divisions, three that were trotting cleanly and three that had made errors.
Justabitlikethis which had posted a 55-metre winning margin the start prior, had worked forward from her 10-metre handicap to find the back of Monterey Lass, with Ourpetabilt holding third.
After an opening half of the last mile in splits of 31.6 and 32.1, Graham was able to secure a controlled third panel of 31 seconds, leaving just two chances swinging for home.
Monterey Lass was trotting cleanly and had the measure of the favourite, holding the advantage to post the official margin at 5.9-metres.
Picking up the $14,000 QBRED first win bonus, the filly will now press towards the QBRED Triad Final on August 17.
Nominations for the 2025 Sunshine Stars Yearling Sale are now open.
Contact Nutrien for further information about selling at the Sunshine Stars Sale.
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