She was only a $3,000 purchase for Kembla Grange-based trainer Theresa Bateup but Monegal is set to surpass the $400,000 prize money barrier at Rosehill Gardens this Saturday.
The Lope De Vega mare has done a wonderful job for connections racking up seven wins and ten placings from 44 starts, with the majority of her outings coming in town. She’ll line up in the Benchmark 78 over 1500m this weekend.
The six-year-old has hit the top four in four of her past five starts and Bateup has been pleased with her efforts in tough company.
“Honestly, all of her runs have been quite good,” Bateup said.
“Her run in the (Group 3) Belle Of The Turf at Gosford was super, she just ran into two class mares on the day.
“It wasn’t the ideal track for her but she was working home really well. It’s a bit of a drop in grade on Saturday and she’s ticking over really nicely.”
Sitting on $399,795 in earnings Monegal will only have to finish in the top ten to pass the $400,000 mark.
Bateup has been having a successful, it not frustrating, run at present with nine winners and no less than 18 placings from her past 50 runners.
Looking forward to the autumn carnival, Bateup has two likely contenders who she sees as being a good fit for some feature races. Her Scissor Kick mare Divine Breath, who has won a Midway as well as placing in last year’s inaugural running of the Four Pillars, and a three-year-old gelding on the up in Moon Stories.
“Divine Breath will be aimed at the Provincial Championships, she’s had a little let-up since the final of the Summer Provincial Series where she was very unlucky,” Bateup said.
“She just got too far back and stormed home to run fourth. She arrives back in the stables tomorrow morning.
“I’ve also got Moon Stories and the big aim for him is to try and get him towards the Derby, whether he’s good enough.
“He had three starts in his first preparation and went from winning a Sapphire Coast maiden to running midfield in the (Group 3) Spring Stakes at Newcastle. I’ve got no doubt he can stay.”
As of Tuesday afternoon, Rosehill Gardens was rated a Soft 6.
