MINERVINI’S HOME DOUBLE WITH A CONTRASTING DUO

A debutante sold for a “song” and a newcomer who arrived from South Australia through sad circumstances provided Mark Minervini with a home track double yesterday.

And the pair’s wins, with Luke Rolls aboard, were virtually mirror images, one leading throughout and the other taking up the running not far after the jump.

Minervini, who with his wife Michelle has called Newcastle home since August 2019, scored with Rose Of Dubai ($4.20 - pictured above) in the F&M Maiden Plate (1200m), and Bella Kathleen ($19) made a great NSW debut in the Provincial Class 1 Handicap (1500m).

The Broadmeadow double took Minervini to 14 wins so far this season as his 490-win career edges closer to 500.

The South Aussie expat paid only $4000 for now three-year-old Rose of Dubai at the 2023 Inglis HTBA yearling sale in Sydney.

“There weren’t many at the sale, and I hadn’t even looked at her until she came into the ring,” Minervini said.

“She was a likely type, and someone bid $3000 or $3500 and I put in the next bid and got her.”

Whilst Rose of Dubai is now truly a bargain buy (first prizemoney was $20,550), getting her to the races has been a different story.

“She has had her issues at the barrier (initially put on the suspended list by RacingNSW stewards in June last year for failing to load, and then twice for being fractious in the stalls in February), and I sent her to experienced horseman Matt Vella at Hawkesbury,” Minervini explained.

“Matt did a terrific job with her, and she was ready to finally go to the races yesterday.

“I thought she did a terrific job. Not many horses win on debut leading throughout over the 1200m at Newcastle.

“Pride Of Dubai mares such as Bella Nipotina and Pride Of Jenni got better with age, and I feel our filly has a nice future.

“She has a good pedigree on the female side (her dam is a More Than Ready mare).”

Rose Of Dubai drew one from the outside in a field of 10, and Rolls got her away nicely, then allowed her to balance up before crossing and taking up the running after leaving the 1000m.

She was never seriously threatened after that and comfortably defeated another debutante, Wyong trainer Kristen Buchanan’s gallant filly Oakfield Universe ($11), who fetched $340,000 as a 2023 yearling at the Inglis Classic sale.

Bella Kathleeen, a six-year-old daughter of Melbourne Cup winner Fiorente, was having only her 12th start and first since March 1 when a $61 bolter and sixth in a Benchmark 64 Handicap (1550m) at Morphettville Parks on March 1.

Minervini had never met the mare’s managing part-owner Steve Rushton, from Port Macquarie, until the races there two days ago, where the Newcastle trainer saddled two placegetters

“I don’t know why Steve came knocking on my door, but I’m very appreciative that he did,” Minervini said.

“Bella Kathleen’s former trainer Kym Modra is battling a very serious illness, and it was mutually agreed to transfer the mare looking for wet tracks.

“She led in her only previous victory at Gawler in a Maiden Plate (1500m) in June 2023, and they’ve been trying to stretch her out over a middle-distance.

“I spoke with Luke (Rolls) before yesterday’s race and mentioned that he should try to do the same as he had done on Rose Of Dubai and lead.

“We were hoping to get the same result, and It all worked out well.”

Bella Kathleen stuck to her guns in the straight and defied the challenges of $2.60 co-favorites Éclair Encore and Oakfield Saturn.

Minervini also trains another of Pride Of Dubai’s progeny, five-year-old gelding Dubai Flyer, who has won twice and will trial over 1200m at home on Tuesday for the second time this preparation in readiness for a resumption.

. HOOFNOTE: Newcastle’s Paul Perry also joined the winning list at the Newcastle meeting.

He scored with Rothrock ($8.50) in the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1850m), giving Wyong apprentice Anna Roper the second leg of a double.

She had scored earlier on Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott’s $2.70 favorite Sisu Spirit in the Super Maiden Handicap (1500m).

Story John Curtis, April 13, 2025 - Pics Bradley Photos