Big test for Rancho Montoya

Promising colt Rancho Montoya is on course to have his first interstate trip to the Melbourne spring

Promising colt Rancho Montoya is on course to have his first interstate trip to the Melbourne spring carnival by racing well at the Sunshine Coast.

Rancho Montoya will be having his first start on his home track in a Three-Year-Old Handicap (1600m) at the metropolitan meeting on Saturday.

Trainer Stuart Kendrick confirmed if Rancho Montoya raced as expected he would head to Melbourne for the Caulfield Classic (2000m) on October 21.

“I am keen to see how he goes on a big track over 1600 metres. His runs have been at Doomben and Ipswich where he has won twice,” Kendrick said.

“But I think he will be suited by a big straight at the Sunshine Coast.”

Rancho Montoya is bred to be a stayer being by champion sire High Chaparral out of the Group One winning mare Isolda, whose beat future champion Octagonal in the 1995 Champagne Stakes.

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Kendrick has no doubt Rancho Montoya’s breeding and his racing style indicate a middle distance will be his bread and butter later in his career.

“He races like a stayer, He beat older horses at Doomben over 1600 metres last start and just ground them into the dust,” Kendrick said.

“Saturday’s race will tell us what happens next but if we go south, it will be for the Caulfield Classic and not the Caulfield Guineas.”

Fellow trainer Bruce Hill is another looking at the southern states with Man of His Word who runs in the 1200m-Open Handicap on Saturday.

The winner of the Listed Brisbane Handicap in December, Man Of His Word went to Sydney in July when his two starts include a second in the Listed Winter Stakes.

“He likes the Sunshine Coast and it looks a nice race for him to start. Then it will be off to Sydney and Melbourne to see what we can pick up,” Hill said.