Monterosso

Monterosso was impressive in winning a good Class 2 10-furlong handicap at Newmarket on Sunday. The son of Dubawi travelled well up on the outside just behind the leaders in the early stages of the race, moved up nicely three furlongs out, moved up to join Caldercruix a furlong and a half out and stayed on well up the final incline to win nicely. This was a strong handicap. Caldercruix had won his previous two runs, his first two runs of the season, and he had the rail to help him, while the third horse Moose Moran had looked good in winning a Newbury maiden on his previous start. Monterosso himself had run a cracker on his own previous start, in a 10-furlong handicap at Newbury, on the day that Moose Moran won his maiden, to finish second behind Green Moon. He couldn’t match the winner’s relentless gallop inside the final furlong that day, but he pulled four lengths clear of the rest of the field, and Green Moon has since come out and won the Listed Fairway Stakes.

He is now officially rated 24lb higher than the mark off which he won that handicap. Monterosso was raised just 6lb for his Newbury run, and he has been raised another 10lb for this win, which looks lenient. He continues to progress, he has now won four of his last five races and the only horse who has beaten him since last January is Green Moon, to whom he was trying to concede 5lb and who is a Pattern class performer. A mark of 104 could under-estimate Monterosso’s ability considerably, and he will be of interest wherever he goes next. He could be one for one of the big middle distance handicaps at Royal Ascot.

30th May 2010