Talented Justify (USA) mare Spicy Martini produced her brilliant best at Eagle Farm when resuming from a spell on Saturday to score an explosive last to first win in the $160,000 Listed BRC Ascot Handicap (1000m).
Already a three time stakes-winner that captured the Group III BRC Fred Best Classic during the Brisbane Winter Carnival last year, the Toby Edmonds four year-old was taking on some well-seasoned older sprinters and proved up to the task.
Slowly away for Taylor Marshall, she settled last in the field of 12 and produced a sparkling turn of foot to charge home along the inside to beat Group I winner Uncommon James by half a length.
Toby Edmonds wasn’t happy when she missed the start, but all’s well that ends well.
"I was cranky," he said in reference to the start.
"But she had no weight (53kg) and Taylor rode for luck so that was a big thing.
"He's very underrated. His dad (the late jockey John Marshall) was a great jockey and they're very similar in stature.
"I knew his dad quite well so it was pleasing to get him a winner."
Marshall was forced to think fast and coming from last proved a winning move.
"She's got so much heart this horse," he said.
"To her credit she was electric late. On paper it mapped to be a genuine gallop and it played out that way.
"It was a blessing in disguise for us to be back in the field where we were. She did terrific."
Bred at Coolmore, Spicy Martini was purchased for just $8,000 through Inglis Digital Online and has the impressive record of six wins from 10 starts with prizemoney topping $621,000.
She is the first stakes-winner among four winners from stakes-placed Redoute’s Choice mare Extra Olives, a grand-daughter of Champion Filly Alinghi, a four time Group I winner.
Coolmore sold a yearling filly by Home Affairs from Extra Olives at Magic Millions this year for $350,000 to Bjorn Baker Racing/Clarke Bloodstock Pty Ltd and she produced a filly last spring by St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) that is her final foal.
While Justify is not returning to Coolmore Australia, his champion son City of Troy (USA) covered an exceptional first book of 158 mares here last year and his first foals will be highly anticipated this spring.
