Matthew Dale-trained filly Martini Mumma is headed for the listed $200,000 Denise’s Joy Stakes (1100m) at Scone on May 18, following her dominant win in last Saturday’s Class 3 TAB Highway Handicap over the same trip at Rosehill.
Apprentice Dylan Gibbons settled the three-year-old midfield before making his move approaching the 200-metre mark on the $4.20 favourite.
Martini Mumma quickly reeled in her rivals, dashing away to record a 2½-length win over Tanglewood, with Wilbury a further length and a quarter away in third place.
The win brought up a hat-trick for Martini Mumma, who has had only four starts in total.
“This was as strong a Highway as I’ve contested and she was very impressive,” Dale said.
“The way she settled, getting in behind them, tracked up, bumped her way out and raced clear was a big effort.
“I said to the owners before the race that this was a big test for the filly, that we were throwing her in at the deep end. She’s extremely raw and I said if she can win this, then she justifies a crack at stakes grade.
“I knew we were jumping a few levels today and I thought if she could do it, and she has won really well today, then I’d give her the chance at Scone.”  
Everyone’s a winner
Later on the Rosehill program, the Marc Chevalier-trained mare Everyone’s A Star recorded her third metropolitan win from her past four attempts, taking out the 1100-metre benchmark 72 Midway Handicap.
Jockey Tyler Schiller settled his mount midfield before driving her to the front at the 100-metre mark. The mare then staved off the late charge of Broadway Bouncer, who finished strongly from well back in the field, to win by a half-neck, with another swooper in Sumo Star a length and a half away in third place.
It was a meritorious win by Everyone’s A Star ($11) as she was trapped three wide without cover for much of the race.
“She is in the form of her life and Marc is doing a great job to keep her up so long,” Schiller said. “He said that’s her 10th run this prep and she keeps thriving.”
Hawkesbury-based Chevalier praised Schiller’s ride.
“I was almost worried that she wasn’t as far forward as usual but there was great pace there.
“Tyler was able to relax her. She was strong — she’s a sharp mare.”
Say all the way
In the 1100-metre benchmark 94 at Rosehill, jockey Nash Rawiller had no hesitation in sending Newcastle four-year-old Hard To Say straight to the front. Despite the fact that Manhood was just a long neck from him at the finish,  Hard To Say ($10) never really looked like losing.
“I told him (Rawiller) I’d leave it up to him what to do from that barrier (12),” said trainer Jason Deamer.
“When the horse began well, I thought, ‘Nash is going forward.’
“We were thinking twice about running today because he’d drawn wide but the way the track’s playing and (thanks to) Nash’s positive ride, it’s worked out well.”
Deamer said Hard To Say would now head to the listed $200,000 Luskin Star Stakes at Scone on May 18.
“He’ll be three weeks between runs, which is ideal going to Scone.”
Gosford trainer Adam Duggan later kept the provincial flag flying by taking out the final race on the Rosehill program, the 1300-metre nenchmark 78 with Diamond Diesel ($10), ridden by Tom Sherry.
Around the traps
At Tamworth last Friday, Ashley Morgan capped a riding treble with victory in the Tamworth Cup (1400m) on $2 favourite Gringotts, trained by Ciaron Maher.
The winner scored by three-quarters of a length from Kinloch with a similar margin to third-placed Akasawa.
Aaron Bullock and apprentice Braith Nock rode a double apiece at Tamworth.
At Moruya the same afternoon up-and-coming apprentice Jade McKenzie rode a winning double.
The following day in the Upper Hunter, the Merriwa Cup (1350m) went to $6.50 fhance Hemsted, trained at Muswellbrook by Carlos Antonio and ridden by apprentice Julia Presits. The previous week, the three had combined to win the Jerry Plains Cup at Hemsted’s home track.
The same day in the Central West, the Tomingley Picnic Cup (1500m) went to Avalicious, ridden by Ricky Blewitt and trained at Dubbo by Clint Lundholm.
The win brought up a double for Blewitt but it was Zara Lewis who took riding honours with a winning treble.
Another Dubbo trainer to score some silverware last weekend was Dar Lunn, who saddled up $2.60 favourite Elson Boy to win the benchmark 82 Diggers Cup (1300m) at Narromine on Sunday under apprentice Braith Nock. The winner scored by nearly half a length from Gidgee Guy, with Deel Street a further length away in third place.
The win brought up a double for Nock, who shared riding honours with Mikayla Weir.
Wagga whopper
This Friday attention turns to Wagga for the Murrumbidgee Turf Club’s meeting featuring the $200,000 Wagga Gold Cup (2000m) and the $80,000 MTC Guineas (1600m).
Saturday is Hawkesbury’s turn in the spotlight, with more than $1.8 million in prizemoney to be won and three races each worth $250,000 on the 10-race card. They are the Group 3 Hawkesbury Gold Cup (1600m), a qualifier for the Big Dance, the Group 3 Hawkesbury Guineas (1400m) and the Group 3 Hawkesbury Crown (1300m).
Tomorrow is cup day at Binnaway and at the Boorowa picnics, with the main races over 1300 and 1700 metres respectively.