The Adelaide Cup is next on the agenda for classy staying mare Montahlia following her effortless win in Friday night’s Brandon Machinery Sales Handicap (3000m) at Moonee Valley.

Sent out the even money favourite with bookmakers following a five and a half length romp here a fortnight ago, Montahlia was never going to be beaten again tonight.

Apprentice Brent Evans rode the lightly raced six-year-old mare with great confidence, positioning her off the speed before coming with a run when approaching the turn.

Trainer Mick Kent said the mare would go into Adelaide’s famous two miler on March 8 without another run.

“She’s going to be a lightweight chance,” Kent said. “It looks like being a great race the Adelaide Cup this year.”

“I think we’ll probably go straight into it,” he noted. “She’s a pretty natural stayer.”

“There’s not much to her. She’s only a light mare. So it might be better if we go straight into it now.”

Kent said he was confident throughout the race knowing he had the horse to beat in the 3000 metre staying test.

“He rode her very confident,” he added. “She’s probably better when you set her alight a bit earlier.”

“She’s very tough. And he probably gave her a soft run in the end.”

The win was the 50th at metropolitan level for star apprentice Brent Evans – a former Queenslander who’s made a big impact since transferring to Kent at Cranbourne.

“She’s not a bad horse,” Evans said. “She’s something special.”

“She’s just hitting her form and she’s going really well.”

At the post Montahlia ($1.80-$2 fav) held a length and a quarter margin over Paso Robles ($10-$11).

Another length and a half back in third place was the second favourite Belle Famille ($4.60-$5.50-$5).

A graduate of the 2005 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, where she could have been yours for $80,000, Montahlia is starting to build an imposing record.

She has won five of her 17 starts. Along with her five minor placings her earnings have shot to over $145,000.

By renowned international sire Montjeu, Montahlia is bred to stay. She is from an unraced mare by champion New Zealand sire Zabeel.

Her half brother El Torro is a handy kiwi galloper who’s won three races at 2200 metres, while another half brother Senor Zorro has won two races to 2100 metres.

Meanwhile, the Patinack Farm colours shared the prize in the opening race on the card when Chopped split the prize with Adelaide homebred Alittlevolcanic.

A lightly raced three-year-old filly by Choisir, Chopped was purchased by Team Patinack for $100,000 from the 2008 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Trained by John Thompson, Chopped has already earned over $52,000 from just five starts and is now a city winner with her breeding future in mind.