MARK Minervini’s first winner of the new year at his home track today came on
top of a major announcement from the Newcastle trainer.
Minervini produced Shall Be ($6) first-up off one trial to land the Midway Benchmark 64 Handicap (900m), also giving Brazilian jockey Jose Severo his second success in three days, having made a winning city debut at Warwick Farm last Wednesday.
Shall Be, a lightly-raced Shalaa three-year-old, began awkwardly but quickly mustered speed, and Severo trailed the pacy eventual runner-up Zoe Shark ($9), retaining the inside running.
Once he called on the gelding in the straight, Shall Be responded well and forged clear over the closing stages to score comfortably and post his second victory at only his fourth start, and first since May.
“I brought him back in spring and trialled him twice, but just wasn’t entirely happy with him,”
Minervini said.
“The best thing was to turn him out again, and he has come back much better this time. Jose rode him in a 900m trial at home on December 30 when he was fast away before finishing third to Hard To Say (who contests the $1m Magic Millions Snippets, 1200m at the Gold Coast tomorrow, and is strongly fancied).”
Meanwhile, Minervini says 2025 brings a new chapter for Minervini Racing, and has announced three new significant appointments to the management structure.
Former jumps jockey Selim Agbal takes the role as stable foreman, with 12 years’ experience in the racing industry both in Australia and Europe.
He has ridden trackwork for the stables of leading trainers Chris Waller, David Hayes, Freedman brothers and Ciaron Maher.
Most recently he has worked for Maher as stable foreman at the Ballarat training facility, managing 170 horses and around 50 staff.
Agbal and his partner Ruby have moved to Newcastle to be closer to Ruby’s family.
Damien Fitton is Minervini’s new Racing Manager. The 27-year-old has been in the thoroughbred industry since he was 15.
He started his career under the guidance of Gai Waterhouse before moving to the Hunter Valley to work for breeding powerhouse Arrowfield Stud.
Fitton was awarded the Hunter Thoroughbred Breeders Association Irish National scholarship in 2017 where he was the Australian representative.
More recently he has been Chris Waller Racing’s racing manager for six and a half years, and has recently branched out to build his own name as a bloodstock agent and jockey manager.
Mitch McBridge joins Minervini Racing as equine science specialist.
He brings a wealth of knowledge in the field of equine welfare, his skills including horse nutrition, heart rate data analysis, trigger point reactions and identifying blood picture profiles.
McBridge will physically inspect each horse every two weeks while in training and assist the team with feedback in regard to each animal’s fitness and soundness.
In thanking clients and friends for their continued support, Minervini also acknowledged the
dedication of his stable staff Scott Martin, Will Forbes, Tori Jolley, Leah Mathieson, Bradley Larkin and Noah Montgomery.
Shall Be followed Minervini’s Boxing Day triumph with Rubi’s Serve on the Beaumont track, and was his fifth winner this season and career 481*. Story By John Curtis, 10 January, 2025.
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