MINERVINI’S EASY WATCH FROM A DISTANCE

MARK Minervini wasn’t at his home track yesterday – but it was the easiest of watches.

The Newcastle trainer was a TV onlooker at Royal Randwick as his Broadmeadow 900m specialist trounced his rivals in a Provincial Benchmark 68 Handicap, justifying the heavy backing for him.

Ridden by Coffs Harbour apprentice Grady Spokes (whose jockey father Ray spent part of his apprenticeship with the late trainer Alan Scorse at Newcastle), Shall Be ($2.10 favorite) outsped his rivals and bolted home by nearly four lengths from fellow Newcastle trainer Paul Perry’s Mr Trackside ($17) and Gosford trainer Greg McFarlane’s Capital Dancer ($6.50).

It was the four-year-old’s fourth victory from five starts over the Newcastle 900m course.

Shall Be made his debut when second at $15 to Rantan (conceding the winner 2kg) in a 900m Midway 2YO Maiden there on April 3, 2024 – and his colours have not been lowered since at the course and distance.

Minervini secured the son of Shalaa for a bargain $8000 at the Inglis HTBA yearling sale in Sydney.

“He doesn’t owe us anything,” he said today of Shall Be’s five career wins from 14 starts, and earnings of just over $176,000.

“They don’t run these Provincial Benchmark 68’s often over 900m, and Shall Be’s inside draw enhanced his chances with the rail out four metres.

“He looked very well placed (coming back from a fifth to Mal Coupe, who won again yesterday, in a Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap at Randwick), especially with Grady (Spokes) claiming 3kg.

“Grady rode Pratt for me in all three recent starts this campaign for two placings at Port Macquarie, and also our recent Wyong winner He’s Cool when he resumed and ran fourth in a strong 1106m Maiden Plate at Port Macquarie.”

Whilst Minervini obviously would like another suitable 900m contest for Shall Be in the coming weeks, unfortunately there isn’t one.

Nonetheless, he is happy to take him to a metropolitan midweek meeting at Wyong on March 18 for a 1000m Benchmark 78 Handicap.

“Shall Be is in good form and his other win was at Wyong (in a 1000m Provincial Benchmark 68 Handicap in April last year), so there’s no qualms about going back there.”

Minervini will trial his Provincial-Midway Championships hope Rubi’s Serve at Wyong on Thursday.

The session was brought forward after originally being scheduled for Monday week when last Friday’s Gosford trials were abandoned because of wet weather.

Rubi’s Serve will attempt to qualify for the $1m Final (1400m) at Randwick on April 11 by finishing first or second in the Kembla Grange 1400m heat on March 21 for eligible provincial-trained horses only.

Rubi’s Serve, who hasn’t raced since late December, ran twice in Newcastle Qualifiers last year; her best effort being fourth to Welcometobarbados (not far behind third placegetter and subsequent Final winner Matcha Latte).

Whilst Minervini missed Shall Be’s win at home, he was pleased with stablemate Hanau’s sixth to Mal Coupe (beaten just over three lengths) in a Benchmark 88 Handicap (1200m) at Randwick yesterday.

“Hanau drew the outside in a field of 12, and went back to a clear last,” Minervini said.

“His rider Alysha Collett said the draw cost him two or three lengths, and he surged late.”

Leading Newcastle trainer Kris Lees and Wyong’s Denim Wynen also were winners at Newcastle yesterday.

Lees’ promising Tivaci three-year-old filly Via Flaminia ($3.40 favorite) resumed to take the Dungog Cup Benchmark 64 Handicap (1300m) in the manner of a young horse going places, whilst Wynen’s Precious Girl ($2.20 favorite) broke through at her seventh start in the 3YO & Up Maiden Handicap (900m).

STORY JOHN CURTIS, MARCH 1, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS