Growl Gives Sire Montjeu a Caulfield Cup Shot

Montjeu's southern success as a sire has not kept pace with the Hurricane Run-led charge in Europe. But Coolmore's Sadler's Wells son has a live chance in next Saturday's $2.5 million (Australian funds) Caulfield Cup (Aus-I) with the aptly named Growl.

The 4-year-old guaranteed himself a Cup start and supplied the French/Irish Derby hero and Arc winner Montjeu with his first Australian graded success in scoring an emphatic win in Caulfield's Herbert Power Handicap (Aus-II) on Oct 14. Growl had been one of two listed winners by his sire that worked out of major New Zealand farm, Windsor Park, for four years from 2001.

That is a light return although his second NZ generation is less than three months into their classic season. Gallant Guru was his only major classic contender in Australia from the first wave, winning the Geelong Classic-L before failing in the Victoria and South Australian Derbys.

South African graded winner Wise Son also boosts Montjeu's 44 southern wins from 102 runners.

Bigger prizes eluded the David Hayes barn on Guineas day, but the trainer was delighted with Growl's effort to force his way into the Cup field. Growl is from Western Symphony mare The Lions Roar, a dual graded winner and second on the NZ Oaks (NZ-I).

The Power is run over the same 2,400 meters as the Caulfield Cup and Growl drops from 54.5kg to 49kg.