EXPRESSO MARTINI DELIVERS FOR MET SYNDICATE
Met Eight Syndicate-owned Expresso Martini made an encouraging return from a five month layoff for Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones at Addington on Friday, April 10.
The Bettor’s Delight half-brother to former Nevele R Fillies Final winner Secret Potion (1:57.5, 10 wins & $285,312) promised much after winning a late season penalty-free maiden 2YO win at Nelson in a quick 2:57.9 (mobile 2400m).
Expresso Martini, resumed with a smart winning second bonus maiden win, this time at Addington on Friday, April 10.
However, after four moderate runs in October and early November he was sent to the spelling paddock with time being on his side.
Expresso Martini was primed for a bold return in the Avon City Ford New Mondeo Range Mobile Pace after a good trial at Ashburton four days earlier.
Driver Blair Orange, from the seven gate, was able to work him into a three back trailing spot on the outer, but things weren’t looking so good when shuffled back to second last beginning the final 800m.
However, Blair didn’t panic angling him wide across sulkies turing for home, then putting in a smart winning dash wide for a well-timed half-neck win over favourite Classielea.
He paced the mobile 1950m in 2:27.8 (2:01.9 mile rate) on a drying track, the leaders running their last 800m in 58.8s.
Expresso Martini is bred to step up as a late 3YO, being from the same maternal family as former Superstars Championship and Grand Circuit performer Defoe (TT, 1:53)
His third dam Awfully Nice (p3, 1:59.6) left the fast North American winner Silver Lined Pocket (1:50.4), the winner of 36 combined races in NZ, Australia and the USA, for over $350,000 in earnings, who like most of the family, came good as an older pacer.
Awfully Nice was a Nero’s BB half-sister to Defoe (20 wins & also a Lion Red Mile winner and twice placed in Miracle Miles), All Systems Go (1:51.4, US) and Nothin But A Dreamer (p3, TT, 1:58.9), now the dam of fast ex-Kiwi USA winner Dream Out Loud (1:48.8), who won nine of his first 26 Australasian starts for trainer Steve Dolan.
Expresso Martini, a brother to She’s Got It (TT, 1:55.3, three wins), is also a half-brother to other useful winers in How Do Mate (1:59.3, four wins) and Secret Lotion (1:58.9, three wins).
He is also from the same family as last month’s Northern Oaks runnerup Start Dreaming (p3, 1:58.3 mile rate, 2200m), who like Secret Potion, only began racing a three.
By Jeff Scott