Kiwi Bred Gin Martini Wins G3 Epona

Media Release - Saturday March 18

Smart four-year-old mare Gin Martini claimed a deserved Group Three victory when successful in the Epona Stakes (1900m) at Rosehill on Saturday.

Gin Martini wins the G3 Epona - image Steve Hart

The New Zealand-bred daughter of Rip Van Winkle travelled three-wide throughout under Damian Lane and after presenting widest at the top of the straight, pulled out too many stops to defy Thalassophile by a long neck, with Douceur three-quarters of a length away in third.

Prepared by John Sargent, Gin Martini is proven out to 3200m, having won the Listed Sandown Cup (3200m) last spring, while she was placed in the Gr.1 Australian Oaks (2400m) last season.

Sargent believes the mare has matured further this preparation.

“The trip to Melbourne for the Sandown Cup at Caulfield really brought her on a lot more. She is getting to her peak now,” he said.

“Three-wide in the open and I actually thought she’d be at her peak next start, but all dues to Damian (Lane). He knew what he was doing and she just keeps giving,”

Sargent will now likely target the Gr.2 Chairman’s Quality (2600m) at Randwick on April 1.

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“She is coming up really strong this time in,” Sargent said. “I’d say the Chairman’s looks a nice race over 2600m with no weight in a couple of weeks, especially if its wet.”

Expat Kiwi horseman Sargent is renowned for his affinity with fillies and mares and he has again worked the oracle with Gin Martini.

“You probably don’t have to train them as hard as the others, just keep them happy, pretty much like your wife,” he said.

Bred by Bree Baddiley And Sons Ltd, Gin Martini was purchased out of Dave Duley’s Landsdowne Park draft at the 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale by Tricolours Racing & Syndications for $40,000.

The well-named mare is out of the Red Ransom mare Tanqueray, who is also the dam of stakes-placed filly Nothin’ on Me, a daughter of Not A Single Doubt. – NZ Racing Desk

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Race Result - Bisley Workwear Epona Stakes Gr3 1900m

Rosehill Track: Good(4) Time: 1:56.12
1
Gin Martini
- 4m Rip Van Winkle (IRE) x Tanqueray (NZ) (Red Ransom (USA))
Tnr: J G Sargent Rdr: Damian Lane 55
2
0.3
Thalassophile
- 4m Not A Single Doubt (AUS) x Spanish Lake (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J B Mc Donald 56
3
1.3
Douceur
- 4m No Nay Never (USA) x Danalicious (AUS) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: John Thompson Rdr: Brock Ryan 54
4
2.0
Pink Ivory
- 4m Redwood (GB) x Lotteria (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: J G Sargent Rdr: B Avdulla 54
5
5.3
Supagirl
- 4m Pride Of Dubai (AUS) x Mighty Girl (FR) (Makfi (GB))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Tim Clark 54
6
5.8
Bellatrix Black
- 4m Redwood (GB) x Dark Arts (NZ) (Mastercraftsman (IRE))
Tnr: K A Lees Rdr: J Bowman 56
7
6.9
Honeycreeper
- 4m Teofilo (IRE) x Painted Firetail (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: K Mc Evoy 56
8
7.0
Glint Of Hope
- 4m Deep Impact (JPN) x Sacred Sight (GB) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: T Busuttin & N Young Rdr: N Rawiller 59
9
8.5
Aravene
- 4m Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Arianne (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: Jye McNeil 54
10
8.6
Hometruths
- 4m Frankel (GB) x Balankiya (IRE) (Darshaan (GB))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: M J Dee 54
11
10.6
Queenmaker
- 4m Tavistock (NZ) x Ijaaza (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: Edward Cummings Rdr: Tyler Schiller 54
12
10.7
Sanstoc
- 4m Tavistock (NZ) x Sara Ann (NZ) (Stravinsky (USA))
Tnr: Mark Newnham Rdr: Tom Sherry 54
13
11.1
Sunchaser
- 4m Reliable Man (GB) x Keepa Cruisin (NZ) (Keeper (AUS))
Tnr: Robert Quinn Rdr: Rachel King 54
14
13.7
Carolina Fire
- 5m Dundeel (NZ) x Red Hot Chillies (AUS) (Red Ransom (USA))
Tnr: Lee & Cherie Curtis Rdr: J Ford 54
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