Former Lindsay Park-trained son of Toronado makes winning Hong Kong debut

Master Montaro (4 g Toronado - Circus Polka by Stravinsky) got his career in Hong Kong off to the best possible start as he made a winning debut for trainer David Hayes in the Snow Fairy Handicap (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday. 

The gelding started his career with trainer Richard Laming, before being moved to Lindsay Park for his second and final start in Australia. 

Bred by Swettenham Stud’s Adam Sangster, Master Montaro kept his record unblemished when beating Super Dobbin (Wylie Hall) by a neck. Trust Me (Guillotine) was a further three-quarters of a length away in third. 

Purchased for $80,000 originally from the Swettenham Stud draft by Woburn Farm at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale in Melbourne, Master Montaro was bought by Laming for NZ$300,000 at the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready Run Sale. 

His dam Circus Polka (Stravinsky), who has produced three other winners, and she is out Group Listed winner Tropical Affair (Danehill) making her a half-sister to dual winner Prized Icon (More Than Ready) as well as the Group 3 winners Matras (Zabeel) and Romantic Moon (More Than Ready).

A brother to Master Montaro was purchased by Stuart Hale for NZ$250,000 from the Hallmark Stud draft at the 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka National Yearling Sale and he is now called Wise Counsel and he has won once.  

In 2017 Circus Polka produced a sister to Master Montaro and she is called Charm and Disarm and is unraced, while in 2019 she produced another colt by the sire and this year she foaled a colt by his barnmate Highland Reel (Galileo). 

Toronado (High Chaparral) shuttles to Swettenham Stud in Victoria and he stood for a fee of $27,500 (inc GST) in 2020.