Lord Monty earned a trip to Tasmania to contest the Thomas Lyons Stakes on Hobart Cup day with his win in the Paint Handicap at Sandown on Saturday.The Strategic four-year-old broke through for his first win since he scored over 1200m at Flemington on New Year's Day in 2008.Saturday's 1200m race had a spectacular start with top apprentice Nick Hall injuring an ankle when his mount Tan Tat Jet jumped awkwardly, with the grey's head hitting the ground and Hall being dislodged.Hall, who was kicked
Lord Monty earned a trip to Tasmania to contest the Thomas Lyons Stakes on Hobart Cup day with his win in the Paint Handicap at Sandown on Saturday.
The Strategic four-year-old broke through for his first win since he scored over 1200m at Flemington on New Year's Day in 2008.
Saturday's 1200m race had a spectacular start with top apprentice Nick Hall injuring an ankle when his mount Tan Tat Jet jumped awkwardly, with the grey's head hitting the ground and Hall being dislodged.
Hall, who was kicked in the incident, was taken to the on-course casualty room before being transported to Epworth Hospital for observation and X-rays on the ankle.
Lord Monty's win as $3.10 favourite gave the David Hayes stable a winning double in successive races following a winning double at Moonee Valley on Friday night.
The Hayes stable has had 34 winners in Melbourne so far this season and is currently three wins behind premiership leader Lee Freedman who scored with three-year-old Cavalaire Bay in the Hussonet Hcp (1300m) with Dwayne Dunn in the saddle.
The Red Ransom colt gave the Freedman stable its 100th winner for the season.
Brad Rawiller, who rode Hayes' two winners at the Valley, scored on Danewin filly Manila Jewel ($3.70 fav) in the Mahaasin Hcp (1400m) for the trainer, while apprentice Dean Holland had the mount aboard Lord Monty.
Lord Monty, who had to be replated before the start, had a nice run in fourth spot before being produced at the right time and wearing down Okay Oky ($7) to score by a neck with Spirited Halo ($6.50) 1-1/4 lengths away third.
The gelding, raced by a syndicate put together by Joe O'Neill of Prime Thoroughbreds, had finished runner-up in three of five starts since his last win including a half-neck second to Bundle O'Gold in the Zeditave Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield 12 months ago.
"He's a consistent horse and wants 1400 metres now," Hayes' assistant trainer Gary Fennessy said.
Fennessy said O'Neill was keen to take Lord Monty to Tasmania for the Listed weight-for-age $80,000 Thomas Lyons Stakes (1400m) at Hobart on February 9.