MINERVINI LOOKING TO “SERVE” UP ANOTHER CITY WINNER

MARK Minervini readily admits that it’s been an ordinary start to the season.

After 22 winners last season, only two have come the experienced Newcastle trainer’s way in almost the first third of the 2025-26 racing year.

One of those winners was Rubi’s Serve, and Minervini is taking the five-year-old mare back to town at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday hoping she can put him back in the metropolitan spotlight.

He has booked last season’s champion apprentice Braith Nock, who will claim 2kg on Rubi’s Serve in the Benchmark 78 Handicap (1400m) against her own sex.

And he has opted for a gear change on the recommendation of senior jockey Tommy Berry, who rode her last time when a close third to Maid Of Moolah in a similar grade race over the same distance at The Hunter metropolitan meeting at Newcastle a fortnight ago.

“Tommy suggested using visors instead of blinkers,” Minervini said today.

“She levelled up in the straight and apparently didn’t see the inside horse (Maid Of Moolah), and had a tendency to clock off.”

Visors are similar to blinkers, but have slits cut into the eye cups, allowing partial peripheral vision.

“Hopefully the gear change will help her especially going back to town,” Minervini said.

“Chris Waller’s horse Frosty Girl is the short-priced favorite and the horse to beat, but our mare is fit and well and drawn nicely.

“Tommy was offered the ride, but had a booking for a Ciaron Maher horse and I’m not sure what happened there as he is now riding Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup’s Hyperbolic.

“Nonetheless Braith is riding well, and his claim is obviously a bonus.”

Rubi’s Serve finished fourth in a strong 1400m Provincial-Midway Championships Qualifier at Newcastle in March (which produced the Final winner Matcha Latte and runner-up Lord Of Biscay), and won first-up midweek over 1250m with a big weight (59kg) on the Kensington track last month.

She then finished eighth at a Saturday meeting at Royal Randwick on November 1 on a soft track, and her trainer has excused that defeat.

“Rubi’s Serve goes so much better on good ground,” Minervini said.

“Whilst she has been placed on both soft and heavy tracks, her three wins to date have all been on top of the ground.”

Minervini said a wet winter has now turned complete circle to firmer tracks, and made it difficult for his team.

However, he has 22 horses in work and is looking to get things going again in the right direction.

“I trialled six horses (Hanau, Pratt, Shall Be, Resume, Golden Princess and Resume) at Gosford on Tuesday,” he said.

“Hanau won his trial and Shall Be was placed in another heat, and they will all be at the races in the coming weeks.”

Story John Curtis, November 27, 2025 - Pics Bradley Photos