NEW SYNDICATE CHEERING MINERVINI’S LATEST BUY AT ROSEHILL

LONG-SERVING Illawarra Turf Club Board member and former chairman Barry Vandenbergh will be on Newcastle’s “side” at Rosehill Gardens tomorrow.

Or Newcastle trainer Mark Minervini to be more precise.

Vandenbergh and his wife Marie have joined a syndicate to race former Godolphin five-year-old Hanau, who makes his debut for his new stable in the Benchmark 78 Handicap (1100m).

Zac Lloyd, no stranger to riding the gelding when he was trained by James Cummings, has the mount.

Minervini secured Hanau, a son of Snitzel, for $100,000 when he was offered online amongst a batch of Godolphin horses last month.

“I had no trouble whatsoever syndicating Hanau,” Minervini said this morning. “He was sold in 36 hours.

“I have never met Barry or his wife Marie, but a client of mine was in Sydney having lunch with Barry and mentioned that I had purchased Hanau and was syndicating him.

“They rang me from the lunch and Barry and Marie came on board.”

If both Rosehill and his home track meetings tomorrow aren’t washed out, Minervini will be at the former venue.

He also has lightly-raced mare Tickle Me Pink chasing a hat-trick in the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1400m) at Newcastle.

“Hanau has been with me for exactly a fortnight,” Minervini said.

“He arrived in magnificent order, and I haven’t had to do much with him.

“I gave him one gallop to keep ticking him over.

“His new owners have bought into a fit in-form horse with a live chance of winning first-up with him.”’

Hanau, successful on both soft and heavy ground, has won three of his 13 starts and been runner-up in five.

He joined Minervini’s team after winning a Benchmark 72 Handicap (1250m) on a ‘Heavy 8’ at a midweek Canterbury meeting on July 9.

Hanau defeated The Replicant, who confirmed the form by scoring at his home track at Warwick Farm two days ago.

Hanau was a $6 third favorite with TAB.com.au this morning in a field which has already been reduced to 12 with three withdrawals.

Minervini, meanwhile, is looking forward to Tickle Me Pink getting her chance to extend her ‘picket fence’ if the Newcastle meeting proceeds.

“She is in great order, and the heavy track shouldn’t worry her as she was an excellent second at Gosford on a ‘Heavy 9’ at her first start this preparation,” he said.

“In the event the meeting doesn’t go ahead, we have another Benchmark 64 Handicap over the same distance, but against her own sex, to fall back on at home next Saturday.”

. Rosehill was rated a ‘Heavy 8’ this morning, and Newcastle a ‘Heavy 9’ – with more rain forecast.

Story John Curtis, August 1, 2025 - Pics Bradley Photos