A mere seven days after her victory in the Flight Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m), talented filly Montefilia (3 f Kermadec - Bana Wu by Shirocco) made history when becoming the first horse to follow up a victory in the Randwick Group 1 with a win in the Spring Champion Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m).
Montefilia showed an impressive turn of foot to wear down Lion's Roar (Contributer) to score by three-quarters of a length, with that pair drawing away from Bucharest (Deep Impact) who was almost four lengths further back.
Trainer David Payne said he will see how the filly pulls up before deciding whether to run her in the VRC Oaks (Gr 1, 2500m).
"I will have a look at the race in Melbourne," Payne said. "You have to look at it,"
"She has only had seven runs now but we'll see how she is in a couple of days as we will be taking on the fillies again.
"I feel she will be better over 2500 metres."
The three-year-old became the third filly to win the Spring Champion Stakes after Yankee Rose (All American) (2016) and Maid Of Heaven (Smart Missile) (2018).
Montefilia was purchased by Dean Harvey's Baystone Farm as a weanling for $62,000 at the Inglis Great Southern Sale from the Linda Monds' Tyreel Stud draft, she was then subsequently re-offered by the same farm at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and was snapped up by Payne for $130,000.
"She was never going to be an early runner, I thought she'd always get over a bit of distance given the opportunity and the right training etc and that's exactly what's happening now,'' said Monds, who bred Montefilia with her husband Laurence.
"It's what she was really bred for. It does not surprise me at all that she's doing what she's doing. I'm speechless.
"As for heading to the Oaks now, she's got the ability so time will tell.''
The filly is one two winners out of British-bred stakes placed Shirocco (Monsun) mare Bana Wu, who was sold by Tyreel Stud for $92,500 at the 2018 Inglis Australian Broodmare and Weanling Sale to Victorian breeder Sean Duke.
The filly's third dam is Group 3 winner Ausherra (Diesis), who in turn produced Group 2 winner Strategic Prince (Dansili) and Listed winner Yorkshire (Generous).
The filly's Shalaa (Invincible Spirit) half-sister was purchased by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace for $160,000 during the Showcase Session of the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale earlier this year.
Bana Wu has a yearling colt by Darley shuttler Ribchester (Iffraaj) and missed to that same sire last season.
Dual Group 1 winner Kermadec stood at Darley's Kelvinside base in 2019 where he covered 122 mares at a fee of $16,500 (inc GST).
