News

Martin's bargain going for gold

30th Aug 2009

Sydney Morning Herald - John Schell - Friday, 28 August 2009

Trainer Tim Martin's gamble on a cheap colt at the Easter sales might be about to pay off big-time, writes John Schell.

Tim Martin didn't go to the Inglis Easter Sale last year looking for a million-dollar baby, but come Golden Rose time at Rosehill on Saturday that's exactly what he might have his hands on.

While many buyers walked away from that sale last year boasting how they purchased well-bred, high-priced yearlings, Martin now boasts himself about snaring The Mikado. ''Not because he cost a fortune; it was quite the opposite,'' Martin said this week. ''I bought The Mikado for $25,000. He was the cheapest horse sold at Easter last year.''

The Mikado has already won connections $69,900 with a win and three placings from just seven starts, and group 1 glory awaits on Saturday in the first major of the season.

''Given it is a group 1 and The Mikado is a well-bred Danehill Dancer colt, then if he can win it he'll be worth millions himself as a stallion prospect,'' Martin said.

''That would be a great result but we are not getting too far ahead of ourselves. At the moment, we are just happy to be in the race with a horse we consider to have a winning chance.''

While The Mikado was originally bought for $25,000, he was actually purchased for $35,000 by the connections who race the colt out of Rigoletto mare Lirico.

''After I bought him, I sold him to a couple of blokes for the $25,000 that I paid for him,'' Martin said. ''But then I got a call from a client in Perth, Michael Macdermott, who was after the horse.

''He said he'd offer the boys that had him a profit so a day after selling him for $25,000, I bought him back for $35,000. It's turned out to be a good deal for all concerned.''

Martin said he landed The Mikado for such a low price due to ''X-ray issues''.

''It didn't seem too serious and was worth taking the risk,'' he said. ''There were some issues with his stifle, and his knees weren't the best, but it has been something that we have been able to manage.

''We have never really had any problems with him. The thing is, nowadays in particular, there are a lot of these horses that are failing X-rays at the sales. Not because there is anything major wrong with them, just that those paying the really big money won't take on a horse that has any sort of problem, no matter how small it may look to be.

''A few years ago, I bought a mare called Aggie Grey the same way. Got her cheap and she came out and won two from two. I don't mind taking a risk on a horse that fails an X-ray.''

The Darley-owned Denman, a Lonhro colt which has won four from five, is favourite for the Golden Rose and Martin takes heart from The Mikado's latest luckless fourth behind that horse in The Run To The Rose.

''We were very unlucky in that race, should have clearly figured in the placings,'' he said. ''We got into trouble in the straight but once clear late really charged to the line.

''Tye Angland sticks with the horse for us, and he is riding great. He reminds me a lot of a young Hugh Bowman as a jockey. Hugh and I have enjoyed a great association, and now Tye and I are as well.''

Martin is out to snare a feature-race double at Rosehill, with consistent mare Teasing set to lump 60 kilograms in the Sheraco Stakes for fillies and mares that will feature the Gai Waterhouse-trained More Joyous resuming from a spell.

''Teasing has done a great job for the stable, especially given the troubles she's had with injury over the years,'' Martin said.

Teasing is a last-start winner of the Missile Stakes, when she powered home to defeat Gold Trail.

''She has been getting back in her races and charging to the line, and with the big weight, I'd say that's how Corey Brown will ride her this weekend,'' Martin said. ''She's been a special mare to the stable for a long time now, being raced by the Kings and the Borthwicks, who have been with me as owners since 1988.

''Bill Borthwick passed on last year and Ted King did this year so now it's Colleen [King], Betty [Borthwick] and myself that race Teasing. The Missile win was fantastic so if she could back it up with a Sheraco success then that would be very satisfying.''

Rock Song will resume from a spell for Martin in the second race at Rosehill on Saturday, with Jim Cassidy taking the ride. ''It's only a 1200-metre race, which is a little short of his best, but he has been working quite well so you just never know,'' he said.

Martin has been enjoying a good week, with Morecambe Bay winning on the Kensington track on Tuesday, and Street Lover scoring at Canterbury on Wednesday, both with Angland in the saddle.

''We've had two good winners this week so it would be good to get another two in the Golden Rose and Sheraco on Saturday,'' Martin said. ''If we could get the three then that would be perfect.''