Deane Martin (NZ) on Song in Sydney

Promising kiwi stayer Deane Martin (NZ) (Keeper) has a Group 1 date this weekend following his victory in the Group 3 A$125,000 Colin Stephen Quality (2400m) at Rosehill on Saturday.

Deane Martin (NZ) prevailing in the Group 3 Colin Stephen Quality at Rosehill.

Leading home a kiwi trifecta, the Bruce Wallace trained Deane Martin defeated Iggi Pop (NZ) (Savabeel) who was second with Group 1 Auckland Cup runner-up Celtic Prince (NZ) (O’Reilly) finishing in third.

The Group 1 Metropolitan Handicap this Saturday (4 October) has been the target for Deane Martin in Sydney this campaign with a trip to Melbourne on the cards if he can run well in Saturday’s Group 1.

“He goes to the Metropolitan on Saturday now,” commented Wallace. “He has pulled up well, he ate up on Saturday night and the vet has been over him and everything is good with him. He gets automatic entry and will be on the minimum of 52kgs. If he backs up and runs the same sort of race he will be hard to beat again.

“He went over for the Metropolitan but if he runs in the first three in that we will think about Melbourne. There isn’t much for him to come home for so if he goes well he can go to Melbourne and spend another month there.”

Having his third start in Sydney, Deane Martin was third at his last start over 2000m at big odds for Brenton Avdulla who has been aboard in all of his starts in Australia. Unfortunately for Avdulla he will miss the ride on the five-year-old in the Group 1 Metropolitan Handicap after copping a suspension on Sunday at Caulfield.

The winner of the inaugural Karaka Stayers Cup this year, Deane Martin enjoyed an economical run in third position for the majority of the 2400m staying test. The son of Keeper was travelling well rounding the final corner and he put his head in front at the top of the straight. He had plenty of fight in the run home and repelled all of his challengers to win by a quarter-of-a-length.

“He has done really well, I think he is the right horse to have over in Australia,” said Wallace. “In the past few years we have taken colts over there but they have been hard to keep fit.

“He has stepped up to the mark and has continued to improve on the form he had in New Zealand before he left. His first up run was pretty good, his best work was his last 100m and at his last start his best work was late as well. We expected a good run on Saturday and we got it.”

Saturday’s victory was Deane Martin’s sixth win taking his career earnings to A$204,159 for his owners that include former New Zealand cricketer Simon Doull, along with Allan Peard, Mr A D Burrett, Mr C Morgan, Mr C Rendle, Mr D West, Mr J H Martin, Mr G J Ashby, Mr P Hay, Mr R J Limbrick & Wallace Thoroughreds Ltd.

Bred by Sir Patrick & Lady Hogan, Deane Martin is out of Zabeel mare Ela Nimue, a daughter of dual Group 1 winner Nimue (Star Way) who is a full-sister to Group 1 winner Smiling Like (Star Way). The son of Keeper passed in at the 2011 Karaka Premier Sale when offered by Cambridge Stud.