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Connections lead Montien in after his Gr 3 Cape Mile victory (Picture: Wayne Marks)

Turf Talk

Piet Botha had his first Graded success as a trainer on Saturday when the Louis The King gelding Montien won the Gr 3 Cape Mile.

It was a triumph for Terry and Annabel Andrews of Sorrento stud and for their jockey son Anthony.

Terry bred Montien and he and Annabel part-own him and he was ridden to victory by Anthony.

The other owners are  Greg & Des Delponte & Mr M P Williams.

It was also a first Graded win for Triple Crown hero Louis The King (Black Minnaloushe), who stood at Sorrento Stud.

Andrews drove Montien from the off and had the rail in a handy spot by the time they had reached the turn.

Royal Aussie set a fair gallop, but in the straight Montien used his big stride to reel him in.

Andrews dropped his rein when changing whip hands at the 150 m mark but did not panic and maintained his balance and rhythm.

Cosmic Highway also appeared on the scene late, but Montien maintained his stride to beat the Gold Rush hero Royal Aussie by 0,40 lengths and there was a further 0,40 lengths back to Cosmic Highway. Money Heist in fourth, beaten 3,80 lengths, was a shorthead ahead of At My Command.

Montien did receive 3kg from the other four earners under the conditions of the race.

The fancied Trip Of Fortune suffered epistaxis and was eased out of the race.

The former Gr 1 Cape Guineas winner Double Superlative made little impression in the straight from midfield and finished a 6,15 length seventh, but will have come on from the race, which was his second run after a break of 16 months.

Botha’s previous best win was a Listed victory with the Jackson gelding Baratheon.