Stakes Double for Stratum

It’s been a big week for Robert Crabtree and his Dorrington Park with strong results at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale during the past week followed by a Group II victory in the VRC Kewney Stakes for his homebred filly Bella Martini.

Prepared by Team Hawkes, the daughter of Stratum won the Listed Gosford Guineas on January 18 and was a luckless sixth in the Group III MVRC Typhoon Tracy Stakes last month.

Trying 1400 metres for the first time in this assignment, Bella Martini enjoyed a good run for Dwayne Dunn from gate one and hit the line hard to win by three-quarters of a length over Nicconi filly Shokora to give Widden sires a Group II quinella.

Bella Martini has the overall record to five wins from nine starts with prizemoney topping $350,000.

“It’s so exciting to win this with a homebred,” said a delighted Robert Crabtree.

“She’s one of four stakes-winners out of this mare and we have the yearling going to the Inglis Easter Sale.

“I think she’ll go to the paddock now, she’s done a magnificent job.”

Bella Martini is a half-sister to Group II winner Upbeat and stakes-winners Volcanic Ash and Alpha Beat so is the fourth stakes-winner for exceptional producer Silverbeat.

Bella Martini is one of 38 stakes-winners for Widden Stud’s much missed stalwart Stratum, who died in 2016, his place at Widden taken by his multiple Group I winning son Stratum Star.
Stratum made it a stakes double later in the day when his six year-old son Battle Hero won the Listed WATC Cyril Flower Stakes in Perth. It was his tenth win from 31 starts with prizemoney in excess of $760,000.