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.
Silverbeat has a yearling filly by Snitzel that has been entered for Inglis
Easter by Segenhoe on behalf of Dorrington Park as Lot 359.
Silverbeat had no foal last year but is now in foal to Fastnet Rock.
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.