Promising Winner for El Roca

Media Release - Saturday May 20

Lightly raced galloper Martell lived up to his trainer’s expectations when he downed a handy field of three-year-olds over 1100m at Te Rapa.

Prepared at Matamata by Jim Collett, the son of Westbury Stud resident stallion El Roca had impressed winning first up on heavy ground in maiden company at Rotorua last November before failing to cope with a firm surface at the same venue a month later.

Progressive three-year-old Martell stretches out nicely to claim victory at Te Rapa Photo: Trish Dunell

Collett put him aside for a summer break and after finishing an unlucky fourth back at Rotorua again last month he returned to winning form in fine style on Saturday.

Allowed to find his feet in the early stages by rider Jasmine Fawcett, Martell was still a conspicuous last as the field rounded the home bend.

Taken to the outside by Fawcett, Martell unwound powerfully to gather in the pacemakers at the 150m as he out-finished Taranaki visitor Librarsi to win by more than a length at the line.

Collett was delighted to see his charge perform so capably on the testing Heavy10 surface.

“He’s a very handy horse and he loves the wet ground,” Collett said.

“He was very unlucky first-up in this campaign as he didn’t get a lot of room in the run home, so there was a fair bit of confidence today that he would improve on that.

“He won his maiden on a similar wet track at Rotorua, but I made a mistake running him there a month later on a very hard track as he just doesn’t cope that well when it is dry.

“We put him aside and let him get over that, while he really grew into himself at the same time.

Advertisement

“It is quite surprising that he does like it so wet but that’s what we are going to strike for the next few months and it is good to have one who likes those conditions.”

Collett doesn’t have any firm plans for the Gerry Harvey-bred and raced runner although he does think that there is far better in store for him.

“We will play it by ear a little and just see how he develops,” he said.

“I could have run him the rating 65 grade but he would have had to carry 59kgs so the three-year-old race held much more appeal.

“We might look for another race with similar conditions and maybe tip him out again and get him ready for the spring.

“Those spring tracks can be pretty wet as well and with the upside I can see in him I think he could get to a fairly good level.”

Martell is out of the four-race winning mare Myrcella who is a half-sister to the well performed dual Australian Group Two winner Fontalina, who also finished runner-up in the Gr.1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m).

The race provided a highlight for Westbury Stud owner Harvey who also bred and races the Allan Sharrock-trained runner-up Librarsi. – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Stakes Potential for Miss Ole
Vinery Stud’s Ole Kirk added an 11th winner to his tally when the Clinton McDonald trained filly Miss Ole scored a stylish win in quick time at Sandown on Saturday.
Brisbane Possible for Resurgent Velocious
Group One winner Velocious bounced back to her brilliant best in the Jarvis Trading (1100m) at Te Rapa on Saturday, raising the possibility of a trans-Tasman mission.
G1 Stradbroke Next for War Machine
Hot favourite War Machine made light work of his rivals in the Gr.3 BRC Sprint (1350m) at Doomben on Saturday and it is now all systems go as the four-year-old son of Harry Angel (IRE) heads towards the Gr.1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 14.  
Listed Chief De Beers Stakes To Manhood
Surprisingly contesting black type racing for the first time in his career, it was first time lucky for the Annabel and Rob Archibald trained Manhood after the 6yo son of Headwater was strong to the line, leading throughout to win the Listed Chief De Beers Stakes (1110m).
Sires With Winners - Saturday May 24
Here is the full list of 102 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Almanzor Keeps Winners Coming for Moody- Coleman
The Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained Roadcone led his rivals a merry dance when winning the Stow Storage Solutions Handicap (1600m) at Sandown on Saturday, bringing up a treble for the stable and jockey Luke Cartwright.
Antino King of Doomben with Track Record Breaking Victory
Trainer Tony Gollan has earmarked the Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m) as the long-range target for star galloper Antino after a stunning victory in the Gr.1 Doomben Cup (2000m) on Saturday in track record time.
NZ Oaks Winner Strikes Form in Australia for Yulong
Last year’s Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) winner Pulchritudinous landed her first blow across the Tasman with a gritty victory in the Gr.3 Magic Millions Fillies & Mares Mile (1600m) at Doomben on Saturday for trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.
Hellbent Filly Wins Listed Bill Carter
The $160,000 Listed BRC Bill Carter Stakes (1350m) at Doomben on Saturday had a short priced favourite in Hellbent filly Sunrays and she gave punters no cause for concern when powering clear for a dominant victory.
Philia Highlights Oaks Claims With Tenacious The Roses Win
Successful last time out in the Listed Princess Stakes when becoming the 30th stakes winner for her sire All Too Hard, the David Vandyke trained Philia went four from four this time in, leading through to win the Group 2 The Roses (2000m) at Doomben.