BONG BONG TO DUBBO - NOW FOR HAT-TRICK

SUNDAY: December 22, 2024: HAWKESBURY trainer Fabio Martino’s return trip to Dubbo yesterday didn’t end until nearly midnight – but it was worth the effort.

His lightly-raced three-year-old filly Grande Bellezza ($2.70 favorite) made it two wins on end after a tough battle with runner-up Candid ($4.20) in the Benchmark 50 Handicap (1200m).

Martino booked apprentice Zoe Hunt, and her 2kg claim proved decisive with a weight advantage of 3.5kg over her main rival in a tense finish.

A $3500 weanling purchase in June 2022, the daughter of Group 1 Doncaster Mile winner Brutal went to Dubbo on the back of carrying 63.5kg to win a Maiden Plate (1000m) at the Bong Bong picnics on November 22.

Grande Bellezza has raced only four times, and has well and truly repaid her purchase price, earning just over $16,000 so far.

“She is all heart,” Martino said today.

“She did a terrific job at Dubbo to win after making the running, with the runner-up chasing her all the way.

“I thought Candid was going to beat her 100m out, but she was edging away on the line.”

Martino, who recently transferred into new stables at Hawkesbury, believes it has been an important move in his career.

“It’s a good set-up, and I’m sure it is showing in the manner my horses are racing,” he said.

“But I’m not in any hurry with Grande Bellezza at this stage.

“Because it was such a long day going to Dubbo, I will give her time to recover and look for another race in the country in a few weeks to try for a hat-trick.

“We’ll let her go through her classes.”

Grande Bellezza has given the young trainer his two wins of the season, and took the Hawkesbury training base’s overall number to 75 so far this season – six more than at the same period last year.