Newcastle trainer Mark Minervini has confirmed it’s the end of the road racing-wise for his eight-year-old gelding, who went out on a winning note on his home track at last Friday’s Newcastle Stakes meeting.
“It doesn’t always work out the way you want it to, but on this occasion the stars aligned for Super,” Minervini said.
“There were 16 acceptors for the Midway Benchmark 64 Handicap (1400m) and only seven ran, Super had barrier one and Aaron Bullock to ride him.
“It was meant to be.”
Super retires as the winner of eight races (seen have been on his home track) and along with nine minor placings, collected just on $300,000 prizemoney.
A $240,000 Magic Millions yearling purchase in 2017, Super didn’t race and was put on the market after finishing last of six runners in a 745m Randwick trial in February the following year.
He was purchased online by Minervini for $22.500 the following month, whilst still training in Adelaide.
“I got in touch with James Harron, who had purchased Super at the Gold Coast, and he was very helpful,” Minervini explained.
“He told me they weren’t sure he had ability, but definitely needed to be gelded.
“We did that as soon as he arrived in Adelaide.”
Super took four starts to break through in South Australia – in a 3YO Maiden Plate (1400m) at Balaklava in December 2018 – and subsequently also was runner-up at Morphettville and Caulfield.
He was one of 11 horses Minervini brought with him when he and his wife Michelle relocated to Newcastle in August 2019 – and was the last of those to race, such was his resilience.
“Being by Snitzel, we thought he would handle wet tracks like the majority of the stallion’s stock, but we finally worked out that he was much better on firm ground,” Minervini said.
Super had seven starts in his new surroundings before he clinched his first NSW victory, in a Newcastle Class 1 Handicap (1500m) 12 months after arriving.
Soon afterwards, he strung together three wins in a row at home over 1400m and 1600m (twice).
Given a perfect run by Bullock last Friday, Super ($7.50) took his earnings to just over $300,000 when he defeated Hunter Bred ($11) and $1.90 favorite Bindi’s Choice.
“I don’t know why his seven wins in NSW were all at Newcastle, but he clearly loved racing here,” Minervini said.
“We have been thinking about retiring him for a while, and he could have perhaps won another race and maybe two.
“But there isn’t a better way to go out than by winning his last race, so it’s the right time to call it a day.
“He is going to a good home just outside Newcastle.”
Super was his trainer’s sixth winner of the season, and then Star Impact ($12) was an excellent fourth in a huge Midway Handicap (1600m) field at Royal Randwick the following day.
Story courtesy of Provincial Racing NSW