Wily Martin pulls off Plate success

Jun 30 2008 The Journal

TONY Martin initiated another famous handicap sting in Britain when Arc Bleu powered to victory in the John Smith’s Northumberland Plate at Newcastle.

The Irish handler is renowned for his shrewd placement of thoroughbreds in this stamp of heat, with Leg Spinner’s Cesarewitch victory last October his most recent big-race coup.

Martin needed a huge dollop of luck, however, as his charge only made the final line-up following the withdrawal of two confirmed runners on Friday.

Punters and bookmakers alike clearly picked up the scent as the son of Monsagem was sent off at odds of 14-1 under Adrian Nicholls, who looked set to be without a mount as his intended ride Lost Soldier Three was scratched from the field.

Newcastle romantics still refer to the Plate as the Pitmen’s Derby, but even those racegoers steeped in nostalgia will be hard pressed to remember such an absorbing finish. Comeback kid Carte Diamond and Bogside Theatre fought out the early running, with the well-supported Bukit Tinggi well placed in third at the half-way stage.

Bogside Theatre maintained the pacesetting role as they turned for home, and at one stage looked like providing George Moore with his second Northumberland Plate in three years after Toldo stuck in 2006.

But Halla San (16-1) and Arc Bleu had other ideas, with the former finding a dream split on the far rail under Paul Hanagan, who won the Chipchase aboard Utmost Respect earlier in the day.

While Hanagan enjoyed something of a cakewalk to the head of affairs, it was not so clear-cut for Nicholls. Having recovered from an early knock, Arc Bleu twice became trapped for room on the dash to the line.

But after a late gap appeared on the outside of Bogside Theatre inside the last, the outcome was as emphatic as it was effortless. Once Nicholls pressed the button, his partner quickened up smartly and galloped strongly to the line to score by a head from Halla San. Bogside Theatre won many new friends at Gosforth Park with a redoubtable display and finished another three-quarters of a length adrift of the winner. Those to have placed an each-way wager on 50-1 shot Akarem were also in clover as Karl Burke’s seven-year-old stayed on for fourth.

The normally-reserved Martin was understandably ebullient at the outcome of the two-mile slog and revealed Arc Bleu’s temperament came to the fore in his journey across the Irish Sea.

“That was brilliant,” said the County Meath handler. “I can’t say how pleased I was on Friday morning when we got in as a reserve. It’s a good system, just as it is over in Ireland. We decided to have a go at this race at the beginning of the year. We had considered the Ascot Stakes but thought two and a half miles might be too far.

“There was a bit of mess-up with the journey over from Ireland. We were due to get here at 6pm last night but didn’t get here until 10pm. Fortunately, he’s a horse with a very tough constitution and it didn’t bother him.

“We always thought he was good enough to win a good handicap and hopefully he can win a few more.” Arc Bleu’s owner, Joe McGee, added: “It was only Friday morning that Tony rang and said one horse was out and we would get in.

“He’s a good horse. Tony said if he was fit and in a good state, he would win.”

Malton-based trainer Richard Fahey was proud in defeat after Halla San finished a brave second.

He said: “I’d have preferred it if he’d have won but he’s run a great race.

“He came there to win it and just found the winner too good. We thought he was better than ever and it didn’t quite work out. We’ve now finished second and third in the race – but we’ll win it one day.”