Racing: The muddier the better for Montjee

Ken Kelso is one of a small handful who are not as delighted as the masses that Te Rapa is no longer the winter track it used to be.

No more knee-deep mud.

Which is what the Matamata trainer will continue to seek for his charge Montjee, winner of Saturday's Kiwifruit Cup.

Montjee isn't just your usual mudder, he's the next level up - a fair dinkum swimmer.

The wetter and heavier the better.

Which is why he was perfectly suited to Tauranga's heavy (11) footing on Saturday.

However, Kelso knows there are not going to be many of those tracks around where the money is put on the line in sufficient quantities to suit the 7-year-old gelded son of Montjeu's programme.

Montjee won Saturday's $45,000 stake with 52kg.

If he wins another couple of smaller handicaps for little money he will soon be carrying 57kg in testing conditions, which few can handle.

So the $80,000 Taumarunui Cup at Te Rapa on July 31 is the target, but unfortunately for Kelso and Montjee, the Hamilton track is now New Zealand's best winter venue.

The mud Montjee revels in will not be available.

"But we don't have a choice because for a horse like him there are only a handful of suitable races each winter."

Before Te Rapa was sand-slitted and became the remarkable track it is today, many Taumarunui Cups were won on it in conditions that would have suited Montjee admirably.

"Wellington's Parliamentary would have been an option, but it's only $35,000 now and it's not worth the trip all the way down there.

"I don't really want to travel him, because he's not such a good doer."

Montjee was originally bought to race in Hong Kong for his hotelier owner Daniel Lee, but was such a slow maturing type he needed several years to strengthen.

Then when he showed his dislike of footing other than deep and heavy conditions, it was a waste of time sending him to Hong Kong, where the conditions are rarely other than firm.

He was bought for Lee by Hong Kong-based American agent Dan O'Donnel and is managed these days by Melbourne's Henry Plumbtre.

"I've haven't met Daniel Lee, never spoken to him, in fact I wouldn't know what he looks like," said Kelso.

"I talk to him on email a bit."

Montjee was well ridden on Saturday by apprentice Jason Collett, just back from a two-week stay with leading Sydney trainer Chris Waller.

Collett got Montjee home narrowly after a desperate home-straight battle with David Walsh on Foxton visitor Halls.

"Jason did well to make the weight [52kg] and I congratulated him on that," said Kelso.

Kiwifruit cup:

* Montjee found his favourite deep mud and won the money.

* However, he leaves trainer Ken Kelso with a problem of where to head next.

* Montjee was well ridden by apprentice Jason Collett.