Master Monarchy’s win at Manawatu Raceway yesterday (Sunday) has seen the talented trotter break into the 4-year-old Ruby Trot Harness Jewels grand final field at Cambridge Raceway on June 4.
Ranked 10th, and with one week still remaining for qualifying, his trainer Stephen Doody said the brown gelding won’t now be lining up until early June.
“If he makes the final I’ll line him up and try and run second behind Monbet. It will all depend on the draw if that happens. The draws are so vital at Cambridge over a mile.
“If he doesn’t make it I’ll line him up at Alexandra Park the night before the Jewels Final and then I will put him out for a spell,” Doody said.
Master Monarchy collected $4,000 for his crushing six-and-a-half length win in Sunday’s $7,000 Wright Handicap for the C2 and faster trotters.
It took his season earnings to $27,399.50 – $5,294.50 more than 12th-placed Great Things Happen.
Doody has had 10 Jewels finalists but never a Jewels winner, and with Monbet in this year’s Final, he believes he will have to wait at least another year to win his maiden Jewels crown.
“Nothing will get near Monbet. He is in a class of his own. My wee fella goes good but he’s a long way from that class. I’ll spell him over the winter then bring him back next season for more northern racing,” Palmerston North-based Doody said.
Master Monarchy and Doody made a safe start from their 10m handicap on Sunday and settled near the rear and then were third going down the back straight the last time – and stalking the leaders.
In the home straight they simply left their opposition to it bolting away to a big victory. They were the $3.40 favourites and it was the brown Monarchy gelding’s third straight win at Manawatu Raceway and fifth overall.
Master Monarchy is owned by Doody and Tony Jack.
“He trots all right but I’m not getting too carried away with him. He’s a nice wee horse who has done a good job this season, after two unsuccessful starts last season.
“He’s a not a big horse but he’s got a big heart. I think he will come back much stronger, and even better as a 5-year-old,” Doody said.
Meanwhile, one of the highlights on the first day was Kilkeel Lady’s sixth win in 114 starts.
The Sutter Hanover mare and driver Kyle Marshall sat parked, yet were too strong for their eight C1 and C2 pacing opponents.
“She showed good gate speed and then when it mattered she dug deep. We were a bit lucky that Kotare Kasai and John (Dunn) worked hard in the race which helped. We were three-wide and then parked, but Colin’s mare showed a lot of heart,” Marshall said.
The Colin Butler trained brown 6-year-old was the $5.60 third favourite on Thursday and paced the C1 and C2 Mares 1609m metre (mile) mobile in 1:58.6 and home in 60.5 and 29.7.
She had half-a-neck and half-a-head to spare over Kotare Kasai and Atchoo (Jim Curtin). It was Kilkeel Lady’s third win this season and sixth overall – five of which have been at Manawatu Raceway.
By Duane Ranger