One To Watch - Ballarat

Mark Smith - Sunday February 18

Twenty-four hours after the Trelawney Stud-bred, O'Reilly colt Grunt flexed his muscles in the C S Hayes Stakes at Flemington, another Trelawney Stud-bred son O'Reilly, Reilmartini, made a hugely impressive career debut in an 1100 metre maiden at Ballarat.

Ridden by Dean Yendall for champion trainer Darren Weir, Reilmartini made full use of his inside barrier to rail through on the turn before striding clear to defeat Kev's Lad (Bon Hoffa) by two and a quarter lengths with Mia Georgia (Snitzel) three-quarters of a length back in third.

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"Obviously he is bred to get a lot further. Weary (Weir) did say he is a nice horse and he proved that," Yendall said.


"He began nicely, railed through and put them away quite comfortably. I was quite easy on him in the end, just gave him a few reminders when he began to stargaze.

"He's still new and raw, it was only his first start but he has a nice big galloping action and I can't see why he wouldn't get a trip.

Purchased for $250,000 by Mr D Weir/John Foote Bloodstock out of the Trelawney Stud draft at the 2016 NZB Premier Yearling Sale, Reilmartini (pictured as a yearling ) is the fourth foal and first winner for the top-class Red Ransom (USA) mare Martini Red whose seven wins included a pair of Group III's.

A daughter of the Group 1 winning Centaine mare Pernod, Martini Red had a yearling Savabeel colt sell to Mark Pilkington Management for $100,000 at the recent Premier Sale at Karaka.

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