The good pair: Agent Black and Monterey Lass

What’s the old saying “Never judge a book by its cover”. First impressions can be misleading, as seen with the talented trotters Agent Black and Monterey Lass.

Agent Black and Monterey Lass are siblings and yet opposites in so many ways. They look nothing alike - different size and shape, different personalities and attitude plus they trot differently.

But there is a common link between the pair - they both trot quickly. Albeit it took a lot more time for Monterey Lass compared to her big brother.

By different sires, both Monterey Lass and Agent Black hail from the Fling It mare Black Mamba Cheval, a mare that failed to trouble the timekeepers following nine starts during her time on the track.

However, at stud is where the rangy mare has excelled and delivered excellent results for her connections.

Black Mamba Cheval is based with Trump Bloodstock at Tallegalla, near Marburg, west of Brisbane.

Her first foal was Critter Boy (by Yankee Boy) who won six out of 42 while taking a PB time of 1:57.6 when triumphant at Menangle.

Following a couple of quiet years owing to misses and slipped foals, the mare delivered a stunning looking brown/black colt by Sebastian K.

Entered for the 2022 Australian Pacing Gold Yearling Sales on the Gold Coast, the handsome colt was knocked to the bid of Sydney-based owner Daniel Cordina for $26,000.

Aptly named Agent Black, the colt proved to be a natural and would ultimately taste Group 1 glory when clean sweeping the $125,000 APG Gold Bullion Trotting Series (heat/final) at Menangle in his first two starts for trainer/driver Shane Graham.

Following an injury setback, Agent Black missed the remainder of the season before returning as a three-year-old 11 months later and with good success.

In nine starts last term, Agent Black won three times - all at Albion Park - while being placed on another five occasions including the Group 1 New South Wales Derby behind unbeaten superstar Keayang Zahara.

Agent Black has amassed over $100,000 in stakes to date, and the future looks bright.

But what about his half-sister Monterey Lass?

A graduate of the 2023 Nutrien Sunshine Stars Yearling Sale on the Gold Coast, the filly was also knocked down to the successful bid of Daniel Cordina for $25,000.

The filly is by Up And Quick, a French performed trotter and son of Buvetier D’Aaunou who won 17 races before being retired to stud where his winners to starters ratio continues to swell.

Some of his better performers includes For You Madrik, Passion Of The Dollar, Hip Hop Haufor and Night Brodde among others.

And just like Agent Black, the filly was placed into the care of Graham again. So, how does she compare to her older half-brother?

“She doesn’t! There is nothing similar in any way, shape or form between the two! We knew very early we got a steal with Agent Black because prior to Christmas in his year, he was working 2:20 at Albion Park and just kept improving every time we took him off the property,” Graham explained.

The filly was anything but natural.

With Cordina having two trotting fillies that year in the care of Graham and his partner, Kelli Dawson, they were quickly dubbed ‘Spirit’ and ‘Storm’ around the stables before those names were erased.

“With Agent Black, we got glowing reports as soon as he was broken in whereas this filly was the complete opposite. In fact, she had several stints with Adam Sanderson, Graeme Harris and Dad (Wayne Graham) before rejoining our stable,” Graham said.

“It was like she was doomed before it started. Her attitude was horrible and while her gait was good enough, she was slow, unbelievably slow! We kept persevering because Daniel kept saying it would eventually click while also telling us stories that Dawn Fraser’s sister couldn’t swim. It was a real struggle.

“All she did was buck and carry on every time she went to the track. It got to the stage that she was flat out breaking 45 seconds for her final quarter during work! So, that was the battle within the battle. We kept working her and eventually the numbers started to drop, but it took time.”

Despite her tardy attitude, the filly (now dubbed BM) remained in work and lowered her numbers enough to head to Albion Park to participate in several educational workouts and, eventually, official trials.

After several weeks of back and forth to Albion Park, Monterey Lass qualified and was entered to make her official race debut on June 11 – Agent Black had made his debut on April 18 the previous year.

Monterey Lass finished as the runner-up in her maiden start before being placed in her next two starts, all at Albion Park.

At start number four, Monterey Lass registered her maiden victory when leading throughout from the stand in a time of 2:06.6 for 2138m.

“Kel and I were pleasantly shocked that day. Her prior efforts were above expectations but just given how far she had come was quite surreal. It was relief for Daniel because she landed her QBRED bonus too and kept belief in the filly,” Graham said.

“It was August by the time she won and she’d been in work the whole time. Her attitude for work is something else, she was in the sulky every day and trotting to gain confidence and hopefully iron out the attitude problem and I had to drive her all the time owing to her bucking antics. I was too worried she would hurt someone else.

“With the features just around the corner and given there was no standout performer at this stage, we kept going with that belief she might just measure up. Why Tanya Sue looked the best but wasn’t racing, so we went for it and Daniel was keen to see what she could do too.”

On August 17 at Albion Park, Monterey Lass stepped and led to win the Group 2 $50,000 QBRED 2YO Trotting Feature before backing up 10 days later to win the $20,770 Springboard 2YO Final when again stepping to the lead and defying running down.

Connections discussed the possibility of taking her to Victoria for the Group 1 $75,000 Redwood Classic at Maryborough on October 27, or giving her a let-up and staying local for the final feature of the season, the $25,000 Sunshine Stars 2YO Trotting Classic Final at Albion Park on November 22.

Monterey Lass duly won the final trotting feature of the season and ended her season with four straight victories and three minor placings from seven starts while amassing more than $60,000.

“[It was an] unbelievable season in so many ways; from where she started to where she ended. Nobody could’ve predicted that. Hey, she’s probably not the most talented but she turned up on raceday and did what was required and funnily enough, it was her attitude and manners that stood out,” Graham said.

“A deserving spell was warranted immediately following her last start triumph and we’re keen to see how she returns this year.”

And what does BM stand for?

“It’s not short for BMW that’s for sure, it’s just a play on her mum’s name!”.