MARTINO A "STAR" WITH RANDWICK BREAKTHROUGH
The young Hawkesbury trainer clinched an important milestone in his brief career; his first winner at headquarters when well-bred four-year-old All Star ($8.50) took the Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1800m).
Given a great ride by Reece Jones, All Star ($8.50) dashed to the front in the straight and then held off $3.60 joint favorite Cabbucio.
A son of I Am Invincible, All Star earned “millionaire status” when he fetched that huge amount as a 2024 Inglis Australian Easter yearling, and joined leading trainer Chris Waller’s stable.
But he was put on the market in May last year after three unplaced runs in Sydney as a two-year-old, and changed hands for $60,000.
Martino’s good client Spartus Bloodstock, a previous part-owner of the young horse, and the trainer’s father Paolo, became the new owners.
“Dad woke up early at home in Italy to watch the race,” a delighted Martino said this evening.
“I spoke with him after the race. He was thrilled.
“All Star is a lovely horse to train.
“He had a good spell after he was purchased, but has stayed in work, other than a few little let-ups, since he won his first trial at Hawkesbury nearly 12 months ago.
“He loves his food, but I might give him another break now on some fresh grass and to get some rain on his back.
“Reece (Jones) could not have ridden him any better today.”
All Star was placed at the provincials at his first three starts for his new trainer, who has now won four races with him.
Martino was confident All Star would manage today’s 1800m provided he got a dry track, and believes he will handle even more ground.
“Provided he gets a good track, I’m sure he will get 2000m and even further.”
November has been a good month for Martino, who won his first race that month with Eliseo at Canberra in 2022.
All Star was his 23rd career winner, and the Hawkesbury training base’s 38th for the current season.
Martino, his right shoulder in a sling, understandably wasn’t feeling any pain when All Star gave him a Randwick breakthrough.
“It was wear and tear, and the shoulder gave way, so I had to have surgery a couple of weeks ago,” he said.
Martino actually accepted with All Star in last Saturday’s $500,000 Four Pillars Midway at Randwick – won by fellow Hawkesbury trainer Marc Chevalier’s Stand My Ground – but was balloted out.
But he took confidence for today’s race from his horse’s second to Stand My Ground in a 1250m trial at home on October 20.
