Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Three years ago, Montana Glory was one of the best two-year-old fillies in New Zealand, and she showed she is on the doorstep of a successful campaign when she gave a splendid first-up performance to score an effortless victory in the Join Trotsynd Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Produced in fine fettle by astute Henley Brook trainer Mike Reed for her first appearance for six months, five-year-old Montana Glory, the $2.80 second fancy, was not extended in winning by more than four lengths from the $2.65 favourite Seven No Trumps.
Seven No Trumps was beaten out from the No. 1 barrier by $20 chance Amazing American, who resisted an early challenge for the lead from Barbados.
Montana Glory began from the inside of the back line, and Shannon Suvaljko quickly eased her off the pegs to settled down in sixth position. After a lap Montana Glory dashed forward to move to the breeze, and then gained a perfect passage, one-out and one-back, after Johnny Lombo ($12) got to the breeze 1100m from home.
Suvaljko bided his time before sending Montana Glory off three wide with 350m to travel. The mare sprinted fast to burst to the front 100m later before careering away to win easily at a 1.57.3 rate over 2130m.
“I watched Seven No Trumps in the warm-up, and he just jogged around,” said Suvaljko. “So, I was then very wary (that he might not win the start and take the lead).
“So, when the pace slackened, and knowing that Montana Glory was pretty fit, I put her into the race, and then got cover, and she finished very well.” Seven No Trumps, who trailed the pacemaker Amazing American, got clear late and ran home solidly to finish second, a head in front of the frontrunner.
Montana Glory now has had 22 starts for four wins, 12 placings and $84,974 in stakes. She won once from seven New Zealand starts, with her appearances in two-year-old events for fillies resulting in seconds in the Group 1 Caduceus Club Classic at Alexandra Park and the Group 1 Diamond Classic at Cambridge as well as a third placing in the Group 1 Sires Stakes Championship at Alexandra Park.
She is by American stallion Always B Miki and is the first foal out of the unraced Mach Three mare Pacific Glory. She appears certain to improve on her West Australian record of three wins and eight placings from15 starts.