Group One beckons for gifted Monovale graduate
Exciting age group prospect Asturia (NZ) (Almanzor) is on the trail of a Classic success, which brothers Joe and Max Smithies went frustratingly close to last term.
The Waikato-based siblings bred the Almanzor filly under their Monovale Holdings banner and a dominant winning performance at Ellerslie has her in line for higher honours.
The Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained representative was a stylish winner of Saturday’s Gr.2 Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) and is now a $1.90 favourite to claim next month’s Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton.
Monovale went close to top-flight victories last season when their home-bred and raced Autumn Glory (NZ) (Ocean Park) won the Gr.2 Waikato Guineas (2000m) before runner-up finishes in the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) and Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m).
She was subsequently sold to Yulong Investments and has yet to make her Australian debut for trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr.
Asturia has won two of her three starts with a second in the Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) in between victories.
“She’s very exciting and it was an impressive win on Saturday,” Max Smithies said.
She is out of the Zabeel mare Kay’s Legacy, whose dam Kay’s Awake won the Listed Newmarket Handicap and was Group One-placed.
“My father bought Kay’s Awake and bred from her for a number of years, and we’ve got a couple of daughters we breed from, Stentorian has got an Almanzor in Book 1 for Karaka,” Smithies said.
Asturia caught the eye of Te Akau’s Sir David Ellis at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale and he went to $135,000 to secure her from Landsdowne Park’s draft.
“We were rapt with her, and she was prepped by Dave Duley, who did a great job with her,” Smithies said.
“We’re a shareholder in Almanzor and have always been big believers in him so it’s nice to see him get these results.
“The mare (Kay’s Legacy) was dry last year and she’s under cover to Almanzor, so hopefully that results in a positive.”
Monovale are currently breeding from up to 25 mares, with the emphasis on the top end.
“We’re a big farm and low on horse numbers and aim to take 15 to the sales. We really focus on the quality and put a lot of thought into it,” Smithies said.
“Typically, it’s just Joe and I that sit down and hash out the matings. We butt heads sometimes, but both want what’s best so we get there in the end.”
