Bendigo trainer Brian Gentle extended a good recent run when his first-starter Moncarta scored in maiden company at Ararat last Friday.
After drawing barrier 10 in the field of 11 over 1600 metres, local jockey Patrick Holmes took luck out of the equation by pressing forward and taking the lead early.
Moncarta was never headed from there.
Bought out of the 2015 Melbourne Premier sale for $42,000, Moncarta is a son of former champion US two-year-old Uncle Mo, and his older half-sister (by Marju) is Burning Sands, a winner of the Group 3 Sweet Embrace Stakes in Sydney.
Friday’s victory on debut came as a surprise to punters (he paid $33 on the tote) and connections.
“He hadn’t shown much ability at all on the training track,” said Holmes.
“He always got smashed by the others in his work.”
Barber’s brave Brave
Prominent picnic performer True Brave was also among the winners last week — but not at the picnics!
He nabbed a victory at Ararat.
Prepared by Tony Barber, last year’s Mansfield Cup winner scored a tough victory in benchmark 58 company under the guidance of Darren Gauci.
The eight-year-old also won at Penshurst on Boxing Day and his win tally has now increased to eight from 41 starts, for $85,000 in prizemoney.