Newcastle Thursday previews: ‘Mark’ down Gemtiki for the future

Trainer Mark Minervini let his fingers do the walking all the way over to New Zealand to snap up a filly from the same family as one of his bonniest mares … and he can’t wait to take the wraps off her on Thursday.

Trainer Mark Minervini is glad to finally take the wrapping off a horse he bought, sight unseen, and only because of a mare he trained seven and eight years ago back in his days stationed at Morphettville.

The now Newcastle local is both eager and bullish to see what the Kiwi-bred mare Gemtiki can offer up when she makes her anticipated debut in Thursday’s Vale Scott Dailey Maiden Handicap (1250m).

“I bought Gemtiki at one of those Gavelhouse online sales in New Zealand from Cambridge Stud, I don’t think we paid a lot of money for her,’’ Minervini explained.

(For the record, the amount was $6,350).

“She is related to Mica Lil, a mare that had a bit of success with. She ran third in a Group 1 for us.

“That was my attraction to Gemtiki and it was why I bought her.”

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Mica Lil raced 10 times under Minervini’s management, lining up in two consecutive Robert Sangster Stakes, Santa Ana Lane’s Goodwood Handicap, an Irwin Stakes, R A Lee Stakes and Durbridge Stakes, finishing fourth.

Gemtiki has sent out some encouraging signs in her two preparatory trials, the last of which was over 1000m at Wyong just 10-days ago.

“I’ve been pretty happy with her two trials,’’ Minervini says. “She was hitting the line pretty well in her last trial

“She has taken a bit of time but that probably wouldn’t surprise you, she’s by Almanzor.

“She’s got a good gate and Mollie (Fitzgerald) is riding well. I am extremely keen to see how she goes but I am expecting her to run a forward race.

“She’s got those attributes to make a racehorse for sure.”

It is no secret that Minervini has always held the blue-blood Torryburn-bred mare Alideel in high regard.

Purchased at the 2023 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale for the not insignificant sum of $160,000, Alideel was bred along classic-lines as a daughter of ATC Derby winner Dundeel with 1988 AJC Oaks winner Savana City as her third dam.

And while any chance of an Oaks win has passed for Alideel, ‘time’ has been more a friend than an enemy according to her admiring trainer.

“She’s just needed that time,’’ Minervini says. “She’s a typical Dundeel.

“I thought her two trials have been solid enough and 1400m first-up on the big track is a tick for her as well.

“Whatever she does, there will still be a little bit more improvement in her but she is going really well.

“I am optimistic that she has turned the corner and this prep and will win a couple of races, that’s for sure.”

Minervini meanwhile is forecasting a much better outcome this time than last for another of the stable’s royally-bred mares in Rose Of Dubai who contests the Steve O’Neill Memorial Class 1 Handicap (1400m).

Rose Of Dubai was always rearward when she resumed in a no-holds barred 1200m Class 1 at

Wyong on October 30.

“Back at home on Thursday and 1400m is a tick,’’ Minervini said.

“She just got run off her legs a little bit at Wyong but we had to start somewhere.

“She’s drawn well so will be a bit more prominent on Thursday, she led throughout when she won her maiden.”

Although Rose Of Dubai has only won once, she is showing a huge ROI for Minervini and connections, keeping in mind her $27,575 in earnings compared to her cost price of $4,000 at the 2023 HTBA Yearling Sale.

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Buchanan’s big road trip

Trainer Kristen Buchanan. Picture: Grant Guy

Central Coast trainer Kristen Buchanan will cover plenty of ground over the next three days with scheduled visits to Newcastle, Kembla and Bong Bong in between.

The ‘Queen of the Midways’ will be aiming to add another one this weekend to her double-figure tally when Broadway Bouncer helps open the annual The Gong day proceedings on Saturday.

Friday will see Buchanan at Bong Bong in the southern highlands when and where Choisir replica Kennedy’s Choice aims to win his second straight Sew & Sew Open Handicap (1200m).

Buchanan’s immediate focus is on Newcastle today where she is likely to saddle-up five runners including the two first-starters Aeternum and Honeyhill as well a stable debutant named Moana Gold.

A New Zealand-bred daughter of Australian-bred ‘parents’ Niagara and Platinum Diva, Moana Gold was unplaced in five starts in Queensland for her original trainer but has managed to be competitive at places like Doomben and Eagle Farm.

“I absolutely love her,’’ Buchanan said.

“I’ve taken all the gear off her, she had lots and lots of different gear and things on (when she raced in Queensland) but she hasn’t in the trials so she goes in au-naturale on Thursday and we’ll see how we go.

“I do really like her but in saying that, I do feel like she will hit her straps when she is up to about the 1400m mark.”

Tassort son Aeternum meanwhile is likewise guaranteed his share of admirers when he debuts in the Davali Super Maiden Plate (900m).

“He is a really nice horse,’’ trainer Buchanan says. “He is very fast. I was keen to take him down for one of the Inglis bonus races, there was a 1000m at Pakenham, but just watching his trial, he did a couple of things wrong the other day and that was the only thing that stopped us.

“I still think he’s got a mile of improvement in him, he’s fast, he is quick out of the gates and all that, but just in terms of learning his race-craft.”

Buchanan is both glad and proud to break out the famous Peachester Lodge colours when the Huddy-family bred and owned filly Honeyhill has her first start in the Kick Up For Racing Midway Maiden (1400m).

“I love this filly, she is absolutely magnificent,’’ Buchanan said.

“If she doesn’t win the race, she will win the pick of the yard.”

There will be no better bred horse racing at Newcastle than Honeyhill.

The filly is a daughter of Wootton Bassett whilst her third dam is a sister to the immortal Toy Show.

Originally published as Newcastle Thursday previews: ‘Mark’ down Gemtiki for the future