Barbados mare Martinique (4m ex Rainbird Blue) has flown late to record a strong win in the 900m Class Two event at Newcastle on Saturday afternoon.
Settling worse than midfield under top rider Andrew Gibbons, Martinique put in the big bounds late and nailed the Godolphin-trained favourite Lanigera right on the line. The win was all the more meritorious, as that particular runner had been a highly-rated two-year-old, running a placing in the Group 3 Chairman’s Stakes at Caulfield, in early February.
Having finished down the track on a heavy surface at Wyong three weeks prior, Martinique went around as one of the outsiders in local markets and had little support with punters. It mattered little though, as a fitter Martinique returned to a preferred drier surface, allowing her to find her best form.
Saturday’s victory was Martinique’s third from 12 starts (four placings) and takes her stakes winnings to a tick over $56,000.
The win was the second for Minervini Racing since the relocation to Newcastle, and special thanks goes to our team of ground-staff, track-riders and stable supporters.
To view a replay of Martinique’s win, click HERE
Congratulations to her owners, Sue Blaschek, Ian Brown, Cheryl Dally, Kate Dansie, Adam Dente, Golden Sippers Syndicate (Mgr: Cain Dinunzio), Cheryl Dirksen, Dennis & Ann Gardiner, Tony Grantham, David Hamzy, Elizabeth Hewitt – Cook, Kirsty Marnane, Martinique Syndicate (Mgr: Michelle Minervini), Mark Minervini, Jennifer Mullins, Michael Newlands, Sally Niehuus, Alan Rowe, Sean Ryan, Jackie Smith, Nicole Stone & Ross Webb.