Former South Australian trainer Mark Minervini will next month notch up five years training in NSW and in that time has not had a starter in Melbourne.
That changes when he sends Raging Bull south to run in the VRC Member Peter Drake Plate (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Minervini would regularly cross the border into Victoria when based in Adelaide and secured a Group 2 victory with Vormista who was also Group 1 placed on multiple occasions.
“I don’t think I had a runner in Sydney until I moved here,” Minervini said from Newcastle.
“I’ve concentrated on racing here but going through the calendar and because he’s got quite a high benchmark rating, there’s not a lot around for him in the next three or four weeks.
“So, I thought now was a good opportunity to duck him down to Melbourne.”
A former member of the David Payne yard, Raging Bull finished fourth in both the Victoria Derby and the VRC St Leger at Flemington as a three-year-old.
Minervini and clients purchased Raging Bull after last year’s Newcastle Cup and almost secured their outlay at his second run for the stable when narrowly beaten at Rosehill last October.
Raging Bull’s form card may not read well this campaign, but Minervini is expecting improvement with Craig Newitt booked for the ride.
“David Payne used to train him, and I’ve spoken to him a few times and he reckons he goes better the Melbourne way,” Minervini said.
“The only times down there he ran fourth in the Victoria Derby and the St Leger, both times at Flemington, so the track will have no problems for him, and I think it will suit him.
“When I first got him, like most horses when I first get them, I took all the gear off him, including the blinkers, but they will go back on.
“With those older horses, I just try and change it up a bit and I think with the blinkers going back on and the senior jockey back on, hopefully that will help turn it around for him.
“I thought he has run OK in his last two starts. He’s probably not an apprentice’s horse and needs a senior rider to get the best out of him.”
