Blue-blood salutes
First up from a spell, three-year-old filly Martilago headed to Goulburn on Friday, December 12 and took out the Goulburn Workers Club Maiden Handicap by three-quarters-of-a-length from Distorted Demand with a further five lengths to the third placed Road Fox (pictured above).
Trainer by the Randwick-based Ron Quinton, Martilago was ridden a treat by Tim Clark who had the filly travelling just behind the leaders and when the time was right, she pounced, recording her maiden victory and signifying that there are more wins to come.
A $325,000 purchase from the 2012 New Zealand Premier Yearling Sale from the draft of Belvedere Farm, Martilago is by Champion Sire Encosta de Lago out of the Listed-winning Danehill mare Martique, a half-sister to the Listed winner Nadege, both being out of the Champion WFA performer in New Zealand in 1999 and the dual G1-winning Zabeel mare Champagne.
Containing the blood of Champion sires Encosta de Lago, Danehill and Zabeel quite close up in her pedigree, Martilago is also closely related to the Champion Stayer and dual G1 winner St Remis, G2 winner Champagne Harmony and the G3 winner Full Of Spirit.
Martilago is bred on the exact Encosta de Lago x Danehill cross that has produced eight stakes winners highlighted by G1 winners Aloha and Merlene De Lago as well as G2 winners Dan De Lago, Rocha and Largo Lad.
IImages supplied by Bradley Photos