MARTINO'S TRAVELS PAY OFF

Hawkesbury News December 16 2025

TUESDAY: December 16, 2025: SUCH can be a trainer’s lot!

Hawkesbury’s Fabio Martino has covered plenty of territory in the last few days in search of a winner – and one has been forthcoming.

Martino was at today’s Newcastle meeting after going south to Nowra on Sunday and west to Orange yesterday.

His victory with Doutelle at Orange was his third this season and career 12^th, and first under his banner.

Ridden by apprentice Ella Drew, the Olympic Glory six-year-old defeated $3.40 favorite Jimmy Manolo and fellow Hawkesbury trainer James Ponsonby’s Will To Excel ($3.50) in the Benchmark 58 Handicap (2100m).

Ironically, Doutelle began his career with Jimmy Manolo’s Sydney trainer Matt Smith.

Martino purchased the gelding online for $2750 in March last year.

Smith won a 1600m Maiden at Wyong in June 2023 with Doutelle, and Martino has now broken through with him at his 10^th start for his current trainer.

“Doutelle has run seconds at Mudgee in October and Bathurst in November over 1850m and 2000m respectively, and it was good to see him win his first race for us,” Martino said today.

“We didn’t pay much for him, and that win has put us in front.

“Ella’s 2kg allowance gave Doutelle a decided weight advantage over Jimmy Manolo (7kg) and Will To Excel (9kg).”

Martino, who has 20 horses on his books, also finished third with Tokyo Star ($4.40) in the Benchmark 58 Handicap (1350m) on the Beaumont track today.

It was the mare’s fifth placing (along with two wins) from 13 starts.

However, Martino opted not to start All Star in the CG&E Maiden Plate (1150m) on the soft track.

A $1.2m Inglis Australian Easter yearling last year, the three-year-old had three unplaced starts for Chris Waller in Sydney before being sold online in May for $60,000.

“I didn’t want to run him first-up on soft ground, so we will wait for another day,” Martino said.