The Green Monkey back on the worktab

THE GREEN MONKEY (Forestry), who was sold for a world-record $16 million as a

two-year-old in training last year, returned to the worktab at Belmont Park on

Sunday. Now an unraced three-year-old, the Todd Pletcher trainee strolled three

furlongs in :38 3/5 on the fast track at Belmont Park. He was posting his first

official move since last October, when he was sidelined by a gluteal muscle

injury.

The Florida-bred bay made headlines around the world at the Fasig-Tipton

Selected Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale in February 2006, becoming the most

expensive Thoroughbred ever sold at public auction. Demi O'Byrne made the

winning bid on behalf of a Coolmore partnership comprising John Magnier, Michael

Tabor and Derrick Smith.

Named for a golf course in Barbados, The Green Monkey was sent to Pletcher.

He recorded his first breeze last May at Belmont and continued to work until

August. Returning to the worktab in October, The Green Monkey turned in four

timed moves at Belmont before being shelved. He was given plenty of time to

recover at Ashford Stud, Coolmore's American facility, near Versailles,

Kentucky, and recently rejoined Pletcher's brigade.

The Green Monkey was produced by the winning Unbridled mare Magical

Masquerade, who is a half-sister to multiple Grade 2 queen Magicalmysterycat

(Storm Cat). His second dam is multiple Grade 2 victress Nannerl (Valid Appeal).