LADIES “TICKLED PINK” WITH FILLY’S BREAKTHROUGH

WHEN Mark Minervini spotted a Vancouver filly at the 2023 Inglis Classic yearling sale, he knew she would fit the bill for a ladies’ syndicate.

The Newcastle trainer was able to buy her for $25,000 – and a dozen women from New South Wales, South Australia and Queensland were indeed tickled pink when Tickle Me Pink at only her third start broke through at Port Macquarie today.

Tickle Me Pink’s victory completed a perfect day for Minervini, who took two horses to the meeting and both won easily, partnered by Luke Rolls.

Mirai San ($2.60 favorite) made a successful debut in the opening race, the Maiden Handicap (1006m), and Tickle Me Pink also started favorite at $2.50 in the following race, the Maiden Plate (1206m).

The double took Minervini to 21 winners for the season; one he is very happy with.

“We haven’t quite managed to win $1m in prizemoney as we did last season, yet we have had more than double the number of winners,” he said en route home late this afternoon.

“Importantly, we have some nice young horses in our team which augurs well for the forthcoming season.”

Tickle Me Pink, the second foal of a former Tasmanian mare (Wyuna) he trained in Adelaide for the last three starts of her racing career before being retired to stud, caught Minervini’s eye when he noticed her at the Classic sale two years ago.

“She is a lovely big filly, and I felt she would be perfect for a ladies’ syndicate,” he said.

“We have several women from South Australia, one from Queensland and the remainer are all locals (with the trainer’s wife Michelle the syndicate manager).

“Tickle Me Pink needed time and that’s why we didn’t race her as a two-year-old.

“Even though she ran seventh of eight at odds-on in a Muswellbrook Maiden Plate (1280m) against her own sex at her previous start, she would have won with clear running in the straight.

‘It was cruel to see her beaten.

“Tickle Me Pink has really blossomed this campaign. She ran second first-up at Gosford late last month and has continued on.”

Minervini also was delighted to score with Supido three-year-old Mirai San for his breeder-owner Jacquie Mealing.

“Jacquie has sent me a few horses, and this is the first one I have been able to win with,” he said.

“Mirai San has been a real work in progress.

“I had trouble getting him to load into the barriers, and sent him to well known Hawkesbury horseman Matt Vella to sort him out.

“He has done a terrific job with him.”

Minervini will chase further success with both Shall Be and Pratt on Saturday week.

“Shall Be was to have resumed at Randwick last Saturday, but I felt it was a bit too quick after he trialled the previous Monday,” Minervini said.

“Pratt has won both his starts for us, and will seek a hat-trick at Wyong.”

Minervini’s promising two-year-old Gemologist, a strong finishing third from his outside barrier over 1400m at Rosehill Gardens on June 14, has been sent for a spell.

The youngster’s older half-brother, three-year-old Rotagilla, bred by Port Macquarie couple Steve and Lorraine Middledorp, scored over 1600m at Royal Randwick last Saturday.

Jockey Aaron Bullock followed up on his four-timer at Scone yesterday with a double on favorites Rock The Machine ($2.05) and Buck Pharoah ($3.20) at Port Macquarie, taking him to 101 winners for the season and becoming the new leader in the State premiership.

It’s the sixth time he has cracked a century, and the third year in a row.

Whilst Minervini was the sole provincial winner at Port Macquarie, Nathan Doyle and Kris Lees (Newcastle) and Gosford’s Kylie Gavenlock were in the money at Wyong today – all with favorites.

Doyle’s two-year-old Divo ($1.50), ridden by Newcastle apprentice Ben Osmond, took the Maiden Plate (1100m) comfortably despite racing greenly in the straight, and Gavenlock’s five-year-old mare Zip On By ($2.20), having only her second start for her new trainer, edged out Wyong trainer Allan Kehoe’s One Kind ($8.50) in the Midway Benchmark 68 Handicap (1300m).

Lees’ three-year-old filly Flame Of Hestia ($1.60) made it three wins from five starts when she blitzed her rivals on resumption in the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1000m).

Wyong’s Sara Ryan would have been the fourth provincial winner at her home track; however her filly Sapling ($2.60) was relegated to second on protest in the 2YO Maiden Handicap (1350m), RacingNSW stewards upholding an objection lodged on behalf of close runner-up Champagne Hero ($2.20 favorite).

Story John Curtis, June 24, 2025 - Pics Bradley Photos