Rider David Walsh is sure Lord Monty could prove up to the class of a $2 million Kelt Capital Stakes.
Peter McKenzie isn't $55,613 sure.
That's what it would cost overall to line up in New Zealand's richest race because McKenzie would need a late entry for Lord
Monty, runaway winner of Saturday's $125,000 Winter Cup at Riccarton.
"The irony is that I nominated for the Cox Plate, but not the Kelt."
There is a $15,000 late entry for the Kelt on August 29, a $3488 payment in mid-September and a final acceptance fee of $37,125.
"That's a lot, in fact, it's buying money," said McKenzie.
"And you could end up with a rock hard track at Hastings, which wouldn't suit."
McKenzie is more comfortable with the $1500 late entry fee for the $250,000 Mudgway Partsworld Stakes (1400m) which begins the Hastings spring treble on September 1.
Lord Monty left his opposition 10 1/2 lengths behind in a magnificent display of power galloping in the wet.
Walsh did not know how far in front they were.
"I wanted to keep him balanced and driving forward."
The race answered a question for McKenzie - the way Lord Monty finished the tough 1600m he is now convinced the horse will race successfully over 2000m.
"I was thinking of lining him up in the 2000m Winter Classic at Riccarton on Saturday, but I don't need to convince myself any more that he'll handle 2000m.
"So I might run him instead in the open 1400m."
Lord Monty grew up mentally during his busy Queensland campaign.
Despite a gruelling round of float trips both locally and in Australia, the horse looked magnificent on Saturday, a credit to McKenzie and to the durable qualities of the stock of his underrated sire His Royal Highness.
"His demeanour is different," said McKenzie. "It's taken a while for him to see what his professional vocation actually is."
Placegetters Star Of The Ball and the favourite Final Reality had a thankless task and Samurai fought well for fourth.
A few fancied runners, including topweight Kenadaad, struggled.
