MONASHEE & TRUE METROPOLITAN SPRINT TO HASTINGS STAKES WINS

Vancouver, B.C. (May 6/07) – As 2007 debuts go, neither Monashee nor True Metropolitan wavered from the scripts on the weekend at Hastings Racecourse.

Monashee, who dominated the local filly and mare division last year, romped to victory in Sunday’s $50,000 Brighouse Belles with a well-timed ride by Dave Wilson over 6 ½ furlongs in a flat 1:17.

The win was a relief for trainer Tracy McCarthy, who watched Monashee win the City of Edmonton Distaff last August before developing plural pneumonia. “She seems like she’s back to her old self,” McCarthy said Sunday. Monashee won the BC Cup Distaff at Hastings last year.

“She was really relaxed at the first turn,” Wilson said. “When I asked her to go, she exploded.”

True Metropolitan, the 2006 Sovereign Award winner and B.C. Horse of the Year, eliminated any doubts that he couldn’t win at 6 ½ furlongs with his 31/4 length victory in the $50,000 George Royal Saturday with jockey Quincy Welch having been flown in from Alberta for the ride.

True Metropolitan won seven stakes last year but never won a race shorter than a mile in his 23-race career. Trainer Terry Jordan had said prior to the George Royal win: “We wouldn’t run him if we didn’t think he could win.” The handsome 5-year-old gelding owned by Bob Cheema finished in 1:16.2 in an eight-horse field that saw arch-rival Spaghetti Mouse run third behind runner-up Forceful Intention.

For further racing related information: Raj Mutti 604 – 375-1617