Stratum Filly Wins Gosford Guineas
The Hawkes Racing trained filly Bella Martini was a short priced favourite for the Listed Gosford Guineas on Thursday after posting dominant wins at Moonee Valley and Caulfield at her two previous starts and duly got the job done to the great delight of punters.
The daughter of Stratum stalked the lead in third place and loomed up fast when they turned for home, but then had to fight off a determined challenge from runner up Island Missile.
He headed the filly momentarily, but she was not to be denied and claimed the 1200 metre sprint by a short half head.
A homebred for Robert Crabtree’s Dorrington Park, Bella Martini has won four races and placed twice from seven starts winning over $232,000 in prizemoney.
She 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 the 36th stakes-winner 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.
