3 minute read

A group of Taranaki racing enthusiasts have enjoyed a whirlwind ride over the last seven weeks.

The Rock ‘n’ Roll Syndicate have dined out on their 20 percent of the Group One performer Montaigne, whose rapid rise to the top level in Sydney has this week resulted in the New Zealand-bred three-year-old’s big money move to Hong Kong.

The son of Road To Rock ran second on debut in January and closed his Australian career for trainer Anthony Cummings with a fourth placing in last Saturday’s Gr.1 The BMW.

In between times, Montaigne won lower grade events at Warwick Farm and Randwick and placed in the Gr.1 Rosehill Guineas and the Gr.2 Hobartville Stakes.

His sale, understood to be well in excess of seven figures, to clients of John Moore’s Sha Tin stable brings an end to a hectic, but memorable period for Montaigne’s Kiwi ownership group.

“Money wasn’t what it was about for us and it was a once in a lifetime chance to have a horse that good,” syndicate spokesman Kerry O’Neill said.

“Most of us would have been happy to keep him – he’ll be much better as a four and five-year-old. In seven starts in his first campaign to get to the BMW was something else.

“I run a business and the horse has been all consuming, I was looking forward to him having a spell so I could get some work done!”

Montaigne was purchased for $60,000 at Karaka by Hermes Syndications, whose principal Kylie Bax undertook a promotional tour to the central districts after the horse had turned two.

“She came down to New Plymouth with a Road To Rock colt, who ended up being Montaigne, and Anthony Cummings was there as well,” O’Neill said.

“A group of us decided to buy 20 percent and we roped in a few more mates. Of the 14 of us, seven or eight have owned a number of horses before and it appealed to us to have a horse racing in Australia.

“A number of us have been over to see the horse race. We took a group of 10 for the Rosehill Guineas and it’s been a hell of a ride. We’ve been very, very lucky.

“We’ve had a lot of fun together playing golf, bowls and racing and we’ll get another horse. We’re in the big show, life isn’t a rehearsal.”