A bigger prize awaits the well-related Montrachet if she can continue her hot form on her home course on Saturday.
The half-sister to the triple Group One winner Vosne Romanee has won all four of her races at Riccarton and further success in the Greenwood Amberley Cup would earn her a crack at a Group Three feature.
Montrachet Photo: Race Images South
“She’ll go on to the Winter Cup if she wins, if not I might turn her out and wait for the spring,” trainer Andrew Carston said.
Typical to her pedigree, the High Chaparral mare has required patient handling.
“Definitely, she has taken a long time and she’s a rising six-year-old and she’s only had the 13 starts,” Carston said.
Montrachet was a convincing last-start winner in Rating 75 company and she has come through that race in top order.
“She’s a mare that doesn’t take much work and she keeps herself pretty fit,” Carston said.
“It’s her first run in open class and I think she’s good enough – she’s in on a nice weight and it’s her favourite track.”
Montrachet was ridden last time out by Lisa Allpress, who will continue her association with the mare following her winning bag of five at Oamaru on Thursday.
Carston also gives stablemate Tacticall a cheeky chance in the Sonia & Garry Thompson Handicap.
“I quite like her on the heavy track – she hasn’t won for a long time, but I think she’s building up to some good form,” he said. – NZ Racing Desk.