Mark Minervini trained 3 year old, Bellunese, broke through for his maiden victory in the Peter Lehmann Cabernet Merlot 3YO Maiden Plate over 1200 metres at Gawler today.
Having just his third start, the Testa Rossa gelding was a marked drifter on track ($8 to $17), but defied that drift to charge home from near the rear of the field on the turn to claim victory in the last stride for leading Adelaide jockey Shayne Cahill.
The way he hit the finish line at Gawler would suggest there are more wins in store for Bellunese, Mark Minervini is confident he will measure up to metropolitan class.
Bellunese is owned in the same interests as his sire Testa Rossa – and sports the famous racing silks of green, white and red for the Cappellins a proud reflection of their Italian heritage! Bellunese refers to someone from Belluno, a town not far from Venice in northern Italy where they like to get stuck into a bottle of the race sponsor's product.
Bellunese's win was the first leg of a double for leading trainer Mark Minervini, with Better Be The One also saluting in fine style later in the program.