breednet.com.au

El Roca 4YO Wins Again

Media Release - Thursday July 25

Promising four-year-old Martell handled the step up to open grade with aplomb at Arawa Park on Thursday when beating home a handy field in the Arawa Park Hotel Rotorua 1230.

Martell winning at Arawa Park on Thursday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)

The son of El Roca jumped well to sit outside leader Caitlyns Wish before getting some cover when apprentice jockey Ace Lawson-Carroll elected to push forward to sit parked with Digger.

Turning for home, Martell was guided three-wide by apprentice Jessica Allen and under his featherweight of 52kg he was able to quickly draw level with leader Caitlyns Wish, with the pair going-head-to-head down the straight before Martell was able to get the better of his rival in the concluding stages, winning by a neck.

It was Martell’s sixth win from 15 starts and trainer Jim Collett was pleased with the way he handled the step up to open grade.

“He was well placed with the allowance, and he was well ridden,” Collett said. “He is a horse on the up, he has only had limited starts and he tries hard and likes that sort of ground (Heavy10).

“He has matured this time in. As a three-year-old he was a bit weak, he is stronger now, he has got confidence, and he is running well.”

Advertisement

While tempted to now tackle stakes company with his charge, Collett said he will opt to take a more cautious approach for the remainder of his preparation.

“He is not ready for anything major just yet. You could get carried away and put him in a Foxbridge Plate (Gr.2, 1200m), but it is a level too far for him at the moment,” Collett said.

“I may go back to Te Rapa with him for an Open sprint over 1200m before giving him another run at Hawke’s Bay. As soon as the tracks firm up, I will give him a nice, long spell and hopefully he comes back stronger again.”

Looking ahead to the weekend, Collett will line-up just the one runner at Te Rapa on Saturday, with last start runner-up Tregor set to tackle the New World Taumarunui Mile (1600m).

“Tregor is in good form, he is in similar form to last start,” Collett said. “I am happy with him and given a bit of luck in the race he has got to go close.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment

Race Result - Arawa Park Hotel Rotorua Hcp 1230m

Arawa Park Track: Heavy(10) Time: 1:15.59
1
Martell
- 4g El Roca (AUS) x Myrcella (NZ) (Makfi (GB))
Tnr: J C Collett Rdr: Jessica Allen 52
2
0.3
Caitlyns Wish
- 4m Belardo (IRE) x Sinalot (NZ) (St Petersburg (AUS))
Tnr: S R Autridge Rdr: M J Sanson 56.5
3
3.1
Thunder
- 8g Niagara (AUS) x Alberta (NZ) (Magic Albert (AUS))
Tnr: S R Autridge Rdr: W B Kennedy 55
4
3.3
Casino Princess
- 5m Casino Prince (AUS) x Sonsy (NZ) (Thorn Park (AUS))
Tnr: C E Goss Rdr: T C Moodley 58
5
6.6
Digger
- 5g Redwood (GB) x Riverina Girl (NZ) (Black Minnaloushe (USA))
Tnr: D B Hollinshead Rdr: A Lawson-Carroll 52
6
7.1
New York Jazz
- 8g Niagara (AUS) x Shesalljazz (NZ) (Coats Choice (AUS))
Tnr: S Ralph Rdr: J Nishizuka 50
More Reading...
Tattersall’s Mile For The Inflictor - Under The Louvre’s Second SW
Third at Listed level before winning at Doomben, the Craig Cousins-trained The Inflictor (Under The Louvre) then tackled the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap, and while not in the same league as winner War Wachine (Harry Angel), the 4yo gelding showed his class on Saturday to win the Listed BRC Tattersall’s Mile (1600m) at Eagle Farm.
Another Aussie SW Sourced from Aga Khan Studs
When Australian investors buy tried horses out of Europe from Aga Khan Studs they know they are getting quality, but the good ones don’t come cheap with Elamaz (IRE) sourced from their draft at the Arqana Arc Sale last year for €480,000.
Wootton Bassett Winning Whirl
It was a red letter day for Wootton Bassett (GB) at The Curragh overnight with a treble of winners highlighted by top class filly Whirl, who captured the Group I Pretty Polly Stakes (1m2f), a race won by the mighty Via Sistina in 2023.
Miss Joelene Achieves Millionaire Status
This time last year, Miss Joelene was highlighting herself as one to watch for the future, having placed in the Group 2 The Roses and the Group 1 Queensland Oaks, and after a few runs behind the outstanding Antino (Redwood) this time in, a class drop on Saturday saw her record victory in the $200,000 Listed BRC Tattersall’s Gold Crown (2100m) at Eagle Farm.
Sires With Winners - Saturday June 28
Here is the full list of 109 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Unbeaten So You Think 3YO WA's New Excitement Machine
One month to the day since he first set foot on a racecourse, So You Think’s three year old son  Opportunistic remains undefeated from three starts, is a dual stakes winner with earnings of $200,250 to his name, and is WA's new rising star of the turf.
Promising Winner for El Roca
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.
Better Than Ready’s Metalart Wins Group 3 W J Healy Stakes
Improving off a third in the Listed Lightning Handicap at Eagle Farm recently, 4yo Better Than Ready gelding Metalart stepped up to 1200m to record his first black type success, winning the Group 3 W J Healy Stakes.
Almanzor Stayer wins G3 Tattersalls Cup
It's been a long time since the  2022 Victoria Derby and some may have wondered whether the winner Manzoice was ever going to win again!
Aussie 2YO SW for Tivaci
New Zealand-bred colt Matahga stamped himself as an exciting spring three-year-old prospect with a hard-fought victory in the A$120,000 Listed David Peacock Oaklands Plate (1400m) at Morphettville on Saturday.