Stradbroke shot lures Bianco to Gateway

By Mandy Cottell and Danny Matthews

Paul Shailer believes The Gateway hopeful Mister Bianco has the scope to develop into a winter carnival contender. 

The opportunity to earn a ballot exemption for the Stradbroke Handicap has tempted connections of Mister Bianco to take on the older horses in The Gateway, but the move is more than just a throw at the stumps.

The three-year-old has been scratched from a Benchmark race on Saturday's Eagle Farm program in preference for the 1400 metre feature.

He was withdrawn from a scheduled assignment at Doomben last weekend due to the wet track.

However, it could prove a blessing in disguise as trainer Paul Shailer has a good opinion of the gelding, believing he has the potential to develop into an ideal Stradbroke Handicap candidate.

"It's certainly something we've got in the back of our minds," Shailer said.

"I don't see Saturday being a problem taking on the older horses physically as he is a really big, strong boy. It's just mentally, he is still six months away from being the finished product.

"He's got plenty of scope to improve still, but he's got plenty of ability.

"There is a good race in him somewhere, I just don't know where it will be."

Mister Bianco carries owner Peter Tighe's blue and white Magic Bloodstock colours made famous by Winx, and while the three-year-old won't reach those grand heights, he is tallying a handy record of his own.

He has won two of his five starts and is yet to miss a top three finish, Shailer's only reservation ahead of Saturday his month-long spacing between runs.

"We're really happy with where the horse is at, he is going really well," he said.

"Four weeks between runs is going to be a little bit of a concern for him, but hopefully that soft barrier in three, he can enjoy a nice run in transit and be strong late."

Shailer has 40 boxes at the Gold Coast where he has been training for 12 months after moving from his previous base in NSW. 

With stables in Sydney difficult to acquire, he says South East Queensland has proven the perfect fit, especially with the support of clients such as Tighe.

"It has been really positive. I'm building a really nice client base and the Gold Coast Turf Club seems to be going ahead in leaps and bounds," Shailer said.

"It has been a good 12 months and we've got a nice platform to build off."

Meanwhile, Spicy Martini looks to be a filly with a bright future after winning the Mode Stakes at Doomben and maintaining a perfect record in her two starts to date.

The Listed feature over 1200 metres rounded out her campaign and co-trainer Toby Edmonds is now looking to the wintertime and the Group 1 Tattersall's Tiara at Eagle Farm in late June.

"It isn't often you see a maiden go straight into a stakes race but we were confident because of her pedigree," Edmonds said.

By hot sire Justify with her dam being Extra Olives, the dam side's line has the score on the board along with vindication in the recent online sales phenomenon.

"We bought the half-sister by I Am Invincible for quite a bit of money a few years ago and she never lived up to what we thought she would," Edmonds said of Extra Olive's second foal, Strong Martini, who notched one win and a placing in three starts.

"We saw this filly come online because she couldn't go through as sale because her x-rays were not good, apparently, so we bought her for $8,000.

"She was immature and Coolmore couldn't put her through a sale."

Of her two other siblings, full brother Mask Rider – who was also bought by Edmonds for $8,000 online – won three races and placed four times in 14 outings while Extra Smart delivered a win and six placings also in 14 starts.

"She's got a lot of upside," Edmonds added of Spicy Martini.

"She's still quite fine and she'll mature and be a much better four-year-old. The Tatt's Tiara looks like a good race for her."

Winning jockey Kyle Wilson-Taylor notched a running double when Hidden Wealth took out the Group 3 George Moore Stakes.