FOUR STRAIGHT FOR SON OF MONTJEU

20th November 2006

Fresh from his success in the Group Three VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2500m), the 4-year-old entire successfully backed up seven days later and landed the Group Two MRC Sandown Classic (2400m) under weight-for-age conditions.

Pinged out of an outside barrier by regular race rider Steven Arnold, Gallant Guru was leading the field within the first 150 metres of the contest before settling a handful of lengths off the pace soon after passing the finishing post for the first time. At the conclusion of what subsequently proved to be a muddling affair, the handsome son of Montjeu produced a sustained finishing burst over the final 350m to hold off the late challenge of multiple Group One winner Casual Pass to score in a photo-finish.

Since being transferred to the Lee Freedman stable at the beginning of the domestic season, Gallant Guru has now won four of his five outings for his new handler. In fact, the rapidly improving son of Montjeu is now unbeaten in his past four starts. A spokesman on behalf of Markdel Stables confirmed that the entire would be spelled immediately before being prepared for an autumn campaign that could target the Group One STC The BMW (2400m) staged on March 31 next year.