Gin Martini had to endure more than two seasons of racing and 19 starts to finally secure her first stakes win.
But the tough John Sargent-trained four-year-old mare is poised to go back-to-back at Listed level in the $160,000 Christmas Cup (2400m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
The reliable and resolute Gin Martini scored a deserved win in the Listed Sandown Cup over 3200m at Caulfield two weeks ago.
“It’s always a bit of a concern when they have to come back from two miles (3200m) but she is hard fit and has done very well between runs,” Sargent said.
“We didn’t do much with her after Caulfield but she had a nice gallop on Tuesday morning and that has topped her off for the Christmas Cup.
“Our plan is to use her fitness and run on speed to make sure this is a genuine staying test.”
Gin Martini is pressing for Christmas Cup favouritism at $5.50 behind the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Dr Drill at $4.80.
Tricolours Syndications James Moss needed to go to just $40,000 to secure Gin Martini at the Karaka Yearling Sale three years ago.
Gin Martini has proven a very astute investment by Moss with the Sandown Cup last start her third career win which took her earnings over $360,000.
The Caulfield black type win means the chestnut is now an extremely valuable potential broodmare prospect.
“It was a great relief when Gin Martini finally ticked that stakes-winning box last start,” Moss said.
“She had been stakes-placed multiple times including the (Group 1 Australian) Oaks over the last couple of years and I still think her best racing is ahead of her.”
Moss confirmed Gin Martini will be spelled after the Christmas Cup but there are big plans for the staying mare next year.
“She will have a three-week break after Saturday then we will get her back up and going for races like the Adelaide Cup and the Andrew Ramsden Stakes in the autumn,” Moss said.
“We will try to avoid the absolute topliners next preparation and try to pick off those second tier staying races.
“If she can continue to improve then we will be a bit more ambitious with her next spring.”
Meanwhile, Moss is also hoping Tricolours can snare a winning double with juvenile The Novelist making his debut at Kembla Grange on Saturday.
The Novelist, purchased for $110,000 at the Magic Millions Yearling Sale earlier this year, is trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, and won a barrier trial at Canterbury two weeks ago.
“He’s only had the one trial but won very impressively,” Moss said.
“Tim Clark got off him and was excited about the colt. He is owned by a syndicate of 46 ladies and we are hoping he is on his way to chasing the Women’s Bonus at the Magic Millions next month.”
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Trainer Bjorn Baker had to check his enthusiastic appraisal of emerging three-year-old colt Iowna Merc on the eve of the Jack Ingham AO Handicap (1100m).
“Iowna Merc is a really promising horse,” Baker said. “His gallop on Tuesday was definitely the best piece of work he has ever done.
“But he hasn’t quite put it together yet. He’s only had three starts and is still learning.
“I do think the 1100m will be better than the 1000m he ran over last start (second to Shadow Vampire at Warwick Farm).
“If he can get over from the gate, he will be in the finish.”
Baker also has three entries in the race including Wategos and Rupertaar but the trainer indicated the latter might be saved for next week after drawing a wide barrier.
“I will run Wategos, he was good winning at Kembla Grange first-up,” the trainer said.
“He’s also got a bit of an awkward gate but he has always shown he is a city-class horse and in this grade he is a definite each way chance.”
Baker also has stayer Fun Fact lining up in the Thanks Jack And Bob Ingham Handicap (1600m) in preparation for the Magic Millions carnival next month.
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It would be fitting if Robusto could win the closer at The Ingham meeting, the PFD Handicap (1400m).
Robusto’s rider Michael Dee will be wearing the famous all-cerise racing colours of the Ingham family that has been synonymous with so many outstanding racehorses including champions Octagonal and Lonhro.
The feature race at the Randwick meeting, the Group 2 $2 million The Ingham, was formerly known as the Villiers Stakes and has been at the request of the family to help raise awareness and funds for The Ingham Institute, a medical research facility focusing on cancer treatments, clinical science, injury and rehabilitation services and mental health.
The Ingham Institute located in Sydney’s southwest, was founded by two great philanthropists, Bob Ingham and Lady Mary Fairfax.
The late Bob Ingham’s vision was to improve the health and wellbeing of people living in the area and he donated more than $15 million to establish The Ingham Institute.
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Paul Cave, acknowledged as an expert trainer of stayers, is chasing a seventh Christmas Cup win with $21 chance McGeehan.
Cave, who trains in partnership with his wife Martha these days, has won the Christmas Cup previously with Taken At The Flood (2006), Sadarar (2003), Airlie Bird (2002), Pasta Express (1999), Lahar (1998) and Prince Weyand (1981).
Originally published as Flashy mare ready to claim a second stakes win in the Christmas Cup
