SPECIAL TIME INDEED FOR BEC DUNN

IT’S an “extra special” time for Bec Dunn in more ways than one!

The Newcastle trainer not only won her fifth race with Inferencia, a mare she bred, at her home track yesterday, but tomorrow will take her maiden city winner On Her Word to Tamworth for her first start in three and a half years.

The now nine-year-old mare last raced when unplaced in the Hurricane Handicap (900m) at the Newcastle spring carnival in September 2021.

In the interim, On Her Word has given birth to two foals – a colt and a filly – by Outreach.

 On Her Word, who gave her trainer a huge thrill by scoring at Warwick Farm against her own sex in June 2019 at only her third start, will contest the Benchmark 58 Handicap (1000m) at the Showcase meeting, and Aaron Bullock will ride her.

“Aaron rode On Her Word twice and was placed both times, the latest when third at Canterbury a few weeks after she won at Warwick Farm,” Dunn said today.

Dunn paid only $500 for On Her Word (by Benfica) at a 2018 Scone weanling and thoroughbred sale and, though the Sydney win was her sole success, she was placed eight times and “retired” with earnings of $72,000.

“It’s been a long slow process getting her back to the races,” Dunn said.

“On Her Word is in really good order, and I decided to bring her back last year.

“I own her myself, so I don’t have to answer to anyone else.”

On Her Word has trialled once when second over 900m at Scone on January 22 in preparation for her resumption.

As for Inferencia, Dunn was understandably emotional when Jason Collett got her home narrowly at $6 in the Midway Benchmark 64 Handicap (1500m) at Newcastle yesterday.

“She is extra special to me because I bred her, and have been with her from day one,” Dunn explained.

“She has been such a terrific mare, and yesterday’s win took her earnings past $100,000 to $120,000.

“I know she had to race wide throughout, but that’s how she likes to do it and she is tough.”

Dunn bred Inferencia by sending her Reward For Effort mare Forever Ranga, whom she rescued from a paddock when she was emaciated and won two races with her, to Victoria to be mated with 2017 Group 1 Randwick Guineas winner Inference.

She has since bred a full brother to Inferencia in three-year-old Ammirati, who is yet to race.

Whilst it’s been a while between drinks in town for Dunn, she is hoping to change that situation when she takes Inferencia to Rosehill Gardens on Golden Slipper day (March 22) for a Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1500m).

. FABIO Martino is a strict believer in the adage that if you look after your horses, they will look after you.

That’s why the Hawkesbury trainer is in no hurry with yesterday’s Newcastle winner Tokyo Queen.

The lightly-raced filly, having only her second career start, took the Provincial Maiden Plate (1600m).

Ridden by Chad Lever, Tokyo Queen ($8) held out $1.95 favorite, Newcastle trainer Nathan Doyle’s Literature Tycoon, and fellow Hawkesbury trainer, Brad Widdup’s Sun Beauty ($10).

Tokyo Queen, a three-year-old daughter of the well-performed Japanese-bred stallion Staphanos (by Deep Impact), was sent to Martino by her owners Anthony Licastro and Anthony Muollo.

“She was bred in New Zealand, and she went into training there,” Martino said today.

“They are good supporters of mine, and decided to send the filly to me.

“Tokyo Queen has done a good job at her first preparation, and I’m not going to ask her to do any more.

“She is going for a break, and I feel she will stay later on.

“Hopefully by looking after her now, she will continue to improve when she comes back into work.”

Italian expat Martino arrived in Australia more than 10 years ago, and has settled in well to his new digs at Hawkesbury.

“I’ve got 24 horses now, and didn’t know if that would happen when I first came here,” he said.

Tokyo Queen was Martino’s fourth winner of the season, and his career ninth – and the Hawkesbury training base’s 107th so far this season.

He won two races last year with Tokyo Star, another daughter of Staphanos, and two with Grande Bellezza, a three-year-old daughter of Brutal.

Grande Bellezza had a break after finishing fourth at Gilgandra in early January, and is now back in work.

Story John Curtis, March 8, 2025 - Pics Bradley Photos