MARTINO'S MIDWEEK TRIUMPH AS SPARTUS FOILS BIG PLUNGE
- John Curtis
- 15 hours ago
- 3 min read
The young Hawkesbury trainer clinched the 21st victory of his career, and first in this new season, when a gutsy Spartus ($5.50) overcame a wide run to take the Benchmark 72 Handicap (1000m).
Martino joined Edward Cummings, who earlier posted his first Sydney winner of the season when Flying From Above ($8) led throughout in the 1600m Benchmark 72 Handicap, to give Hawkesbury trainers a midweek double.
Spartus’ tough as nails triumph foiled a concerted plunge on runner-up Beau Bandit, with the talented Newcastle five-year-old starting a $5 second favorite after opening at $51 when markets were released on Monday, and then $21 this morning after final scratchings.
Beau Bandit was gallant at his first start since April, but nothing could be taken away from the winner, who drew the outside barrier in a field of 12, was the widest runner until nearing the home turn where he joined Beau Bandit and Flightcrew ((21), then refused to surrender in the straight.
In a tight finish, Spartus edged out Beau Bandit with Flightcrew, who was also resuming, a close third.
Martino’s first city winner was Tokyo Star (Tommy Berry) at a Canterbury night meeting in January, and he was understandably very happy to get his first midweek winner as well.
“We chased Zac Lloyd for the ride because he is flying at present,” Martino said en route home this evening.
“Spartus deserved that win in town as he scored at Wyong in early July, had a short break and then ran second at both Gosford (August 6) and Warwick Farm (August 19).”
Martino, who emigrated to Australia from Italy a dozen years ago with his sights firmly fixed on training in his own right, honed his skills with trainers such as Chris Waller, David Payne, Gary Moore, Michael Freedman and Paul Messara.
He took out his licence on April 1 2022, often joking he might have been an “April Fool”, and won his first race at Canberra in November that year with Eliseo.
Spartus had a number of trainers before Spartus Bloodstock switched him from leading Brisbane trainer Tony Gollan to Martino late last year.
He has steadily built his team and now has 24 horses at Hawkesbury.
“You always hope you will get more horses later on, but the main focus now is on quality and getting city winners,” he said.
“I’m sure Spartus can go even further and win a Saturday race in town for us.”
. Cummings booked talented apprentice Jett Newman, who rode her first Sydney midweek winner on Flying From Above, who continued his consistent form by leading throughout and defeating fellow Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup’s Sneaky Choice ($26).
The five-year-old, who underwent throat surgery last year, spent some time at Cummings’ satellite stable in Melbourne before returning home – and hasn’t looked back.
He scored at his home track on July 19 over 1500m before chasing home Voracious in the Forbes Cup (1600m) and Concordia Wind in a Benchmark 78 Handicap (1800m) at Rosehill Gardens last month.
“Flying From Above qualified for the Little Dance (at Royal Randwick on November 3) by finishing second at Forbes,” Cummings told Sky Racing.
“Now we have to keep him up to have a crack at that race.”
The $750,000 Little Dance (1600m) is run on the same program as the $3m Big Dance.
Flying From Above was Cummings’ 73rd winner, including three Group 1s with Duais. His first success was with Gin Runner at Wellington in July 2019.
