Thousand Guineas hopeful Montsegur will begin her 2013 Spring Racing Carnival campaign in the Listed Quezette Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Montsegur will resume in the Quezette Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
The Peter Snowden-trained filly will return to the races for the first time since her successful yet inconsistent autumn campaign.
The daughter of New Approach scored an impressive three and a half lengths victory on debut in the Joe Brown Plate (1000m) at Caulfield but finished a disappointing sixth after starting as one of the favourites in the Listed Blue Diamond Preview (1000m) at Caulfield.
Montsegur returned to her best to finish second behind stablemate Guelph in the Group 3 Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m) and finished a respectable sixth a fortnight later in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m).
She finished the 2013 Autumn Racing Carnival on a high with a strong victory in the Group 3 Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes (1200m) and returned from the spelling paddock last month when she was given a quiet trial over 738 metres at Randwick.
Montsegur will be joined in the Quezette Stakes by stablemate Metastasio who resumed with a battling second behind Gregers in the Aquanas Foods Handicap (1000m) at Moonee Valley on August 3.
Both horses have been nominated for the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) that will be held at Caulfield on Wednesday October 16.
Another Thousand Guineas aspirant set to contest the Quezette Stakes is Peter Moody-trained Sprit Of Heaven – the half-sister to recently retired Group 1 winner Lights Of Heaven.
Spirit Of Heaven made her racing debut with a comfortable win in the Blue Diamond Nominate Now Handicap (1000m) at Sandown in June which, along with her impressive pedigree, saw her quickly move up 2013 Thousand Guineas betting markets.
Spirit Of Heaven isn’t the only undefeated Peter Moody-trained filly in the field with Kiss A Rose also set to compete.
The daughter of Sebring recorded a two lengths victory on debut at Caulfield last December and will make her return this Saturday with the Thousand Guineas also her ultimate spring target.
Other notable acceptors include David Hayes-trained Bulbula, lightly raced Swing Vote and first starter Chloe In Paris.
