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Shelby fairytale rises to the top as Montefilia topples the champ

19th Mar 2022

The ‘story of the autumn’ Shelby Sixtysix (Toronado) secured his first G1 in The Galaxy as courageous mare Montefilia (Kermadec) secured her fourth in the Ranvet Stakes on a memorable Golden Slipper Day for Inglis graduates and clients.

It was a landmark day for both gallopers, with Montefilia defeating one of the shortest-priced G1 favourites in recent memory in Verry Elleegant while for Shelby Sixtysix, it capped off a remarkable rise for the 5YO, who just five weeks ago was balloted out of the Nowra qualifier of the Country Championships before winning a Class 2 Highway Handicap three weeks ago.

It was the fifth consecutive Saturday Shelby Sixtysix – recently dubbed ‘The Party Boy’ for being out every weekend – has raced in Sydney and never in his wildest dreams did Williams see him as a G1 contender.

Williams teamed up with Astute Bloodstock’s Louis Le Metayer to purchase Shelby Sixtysix for $150,000 at the 2018 Classic Yearling Sale, where he was offered in the Riverina Downs draft.

And while he was a Class 2 winner a month ago, the sky is now the limit for Williams and his fairytale galloper.

“That is incredible. Is he in The Everest? What an incredible story. I can’t believe it, what do you say?’’ a gobsmacked Williams said.

“What’s next for him? Good question. The All Aged Stakes is not out of the question. Do we pay the late entry fee for the TJ? Not out of the question. Is it going to be wet? More than likely.

“I have been on such a high since the Challenge Stakes and the horse has just gone right to the sky. I can’t believe it.’’

Shelby Sixtysix (pictured) led in an Inglis graduates trifecta in The Galaxy, defeating Big Parade and In The Congo.

For Montefilia - a $62,000 Great Southern Sale weanling purchase of Baystone Farm out of the Tyreel Stud draft – today’s Ranvet Stakes success took her career earnings past $2.3m.

Montefilia’s trainer David Payne will send the mare to the $4m Queen Elizabeth Stakes next on Day 2 of The Championships before setting her for her primary target of the year – the Melbourne Cup on the first Tuesday in November, a race she ran 7th in last year.

“She won’t back up next week, the Queen Elizabeth is next for her. I want to win a Melbourne Cup with her hopefully later in the year so it’s a light autumn,’’ Payne said of Montefilia, who was bred by Geoff Russell.

“If you look at her now she’s a different filly, she’s a mare now, much stronger, a much better horse.

“That was only her second run back too, she’ll improve off this as well.

“I knew at the top of the straight [Verry Elleegant] wasn’t going to get past her. My mare is just too tough.’’

For vendor Linda Monds of Tyreel Stud, today’s result was far from expected.

“Unbelievable. I genuinely can’t believe it. Never in my wildest dreams did I think she would finish ahead of Verry Elleegant,’’ Monds said.

“I’m so happy for the owners, they come up and chat to me at every sale and tell me how much they love this mare and I’m just so thrilled for them, they’ve hit the jackpot with her.

“Who knows how far she can go, she just keeps getting better and better with age.’’

Tyreel is excited about the upcoming Easter Sale at Riverside on April 5 and 6, where they offer a draft of 11 yearlings.

“The draft is so unbelievably good, I’m so proud and so excited to get to Riverside in a little over a week to show the buyers just how good our draft is this year,’’ Monds said.

“We’re not there yet, there’s still a little way to go but it’s on track to be our best draft ever.’’

Easter inspections begin at Riverside on Wednesday March 30.

To view the Easter catalogue CLICK HERE.

Earlier on today’s Rosehill program, a decision to bypass the G1 The Galaxy and instead focus on an easier race paid dividends for talented galloper Mazu (Maurice), who scored a comfortable victory in the Listed Darby Munro Stakes.

It was a fourth consecutive win for the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained 3YO, who was a $5 chance in all-in betting for The Galaxy before connections opted for the weaker option.

“It’s always tempting when you’re very short in the market in a Group 1 but the plan with him all along was to take it step by step rather than throwing him in the deep end,’’ Chris Ward of Triple Crown – who bought Mazu for $180,000 out of the draft of his breeder Parsons Creek at the 2020 Classic Yearling Sale – said.

“I’ve got no doubt he’ll get to the top in due course but we wanted to be patient. He’ll go to the [$1m] Arrowfield Sprint [on Day 2 of The Championships] now, which has been the goal all along this prep and he’s obviously on song for that race.’’

Mazu has won five of his nine starts for $430,000 in earnings.

And a $3000 Scone Yearling Sale purchase for her trainer Theresa Bateup, outstanding mare Monegal (Lope de Vega) today took her earnings past $600,000 with a comprehensive victory in the G3 Epona Stakes.

The win was a valuable first Stakes success for the 6YO mare, who has now won 10 races from 50 starts.

“What a super little mare, I just love her so much,’’ a delighted Bateup said post-race.

“She’s just been such a fantastic horse, so tough, a 6YO mare who’s racing as well as ever. She thoroughly deserves that, that was the point of coming here today, we were after that black type with her so were looking for a top-three finish so for her to win is absolutely fantastic.''

Monegal was offered by Middlebrook Valley Lodge at the Scone Sale.

The catalogue for this year’s HTBA May Sale – the new and rebranded Scone Sale – will be released in the coming week.