MARTINO READY TO “STAR” AT ROYAL RANDWICK

FABIO Martino hopes to star at Royal Randwick on Saturday and “come of age” with his 21^st career winner.

The young Hawkesbury trainer has never had a winner at headquarters, and feels million dollar plus yearling All Star is definitely his best chance to date.

With Pierre Boudvillain holidaying back home in France, Martino has called up Tyler Schiller to ride the three-year-old in the Stand With Jai Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1600m).

Whilst All Star steps up to Saturday class in town, he was luckless last time in midweek grade when fifth to Iceman in a CG&E Benchmark 72 Handicap (1600m) at Warwick Farm on July 15.

The RacingNSW stewards’ report graphically tells the story of just how unlucky the colt was.

“All Star from a wide barrier was shifted behind runners in the early stages and was held up for clear running from the home turn until passing the 200m, where it had to be checked from the heels of the weakening Hereward,” the report said.

“All Star was then shifted to the inside of Danish Fortune passing the 150m to obtain clear running.”

He was two lengths from the winner at the post, and undoubtedly was very unlucky not to have won.

“The colt has pulled up well from Warwick Farm, and I’m looking forward to taking him to Randwick on Saturday,” Martino said today.

“Whilst he has never raced on the course proper, I’m sure the bigger track will suit him.”

A son of I Am Invincible, All Star cost $1.2m as a 2024 Inglis Australian Easter yearling, but had only three starts for Chris Waller before being put on the market in May last year.

“Spartus Bloodstock is a great supporter of my stable and wanted to stay in the horse and give me a chance to train him” Martino said.

“Along with my father Paolo, Spartus bought him back for $60,000 online.”

Coincidentally, Sydney’s champion trainer was one of the men Martino learnt his craft from after emigrating from Italy more than a decade ago with the express aim of becoming a trainer.

“All Star is really maturing and he won at both Newcastle and Kembla Grange before his Warwick Farm run,” Martino said.

“He was quite impressive carrying 59kg to score easily over 1400m at Kembla Grange on June 20.”

Martino, whose city breakthrough came courtesy of Tokyo Star at a Canterbury night meeting in January, is enjoying the best season of his brief career, with 11 wins so far, and a Randwick success would put the icing on the cake.

Along with All Star, he also has Substantial (Reece Jones) lining up in the Benchmark 88 Handicap (1600m).

Hawkesbury’s premier trainer Brad Widdup made it 65 wins for the season when Mind Ya Bizz scored at Wyong today.

Ridden by Chad Schofield, Mind Ya Bizz ($2.20) took the Provincial Class 1 Handicap (1350m) to post her second success from eight starts.

The three-year-old daughter of Heroic Valour defeated Galactic Force ($31) and Iron Fury ($10).

Mind Ya Bizz was the early favorite, but was displaced by locally-trained Gravel Road ($2.10), who finished fifth.

“The filly’s owner Ralph Tierney is doing a very good job breeding his horses,” Widdup said this evening.

“Mind Ya Bizz is closely related on the dam’s side to Tintookie, which he also bred and with whom I won five races, including the Group 3 Wenona Girl Quality (1200m) at Randwick.

“Mind Ya Bizz is going really well this campaign, and perhaps now is the time to try her in midweek company in town.”

Dual Hawkesbury premiership winner Widdup will try to both add to his season tally, and extend Satono Jasmine’s picket fence to four at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Chad Schofield again teams with the rapid improver in the Benchmark 78 Handicap (1800m) against her own sex.

Widdup contemplated pulling up stumps with the three-year-old filly after she clinched a hat-trick at Warwick Farm on July 15.

“Satono Jasmine has done so well since that she is ready to race again, and hopefully get a Saturday win in town,” he said.

“She is in really good order.”

STORY JOHN CURTIS, JULY 23, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS