Damian Lane rides Gin Martini to victory in the Epona Stakes last month. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images
By Ray Thomas
03:43pm • 05 April 2023
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Gin Martini, the mare with the catchy name and striking looks, could provide Tricolours syndicator James Moss with his first Group 1 win in the $2m Sydney Cup (3200m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
The John Sargent-trained Gin Martini has been a regular at the Randwick autumn carnivals in recent years, competing as a two-year-old when she struck severe interference and ran unplaced in the 2021 Champagne Stakes behind Captivant.
She was back last year to run a very good third to El Patroness in the ATC Australian Oaks then returned last Saturday to run second in the Group 3 Chairman’s Quality.
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But Gin Martini, a $40,000 bargain buy yearling purchase how has already won more than $530,000 prizemoney, could finally get a well-deserved big-race win in the Sydney Cup.
Moss, who had a background in the finance industry before starting Tricolours about six years ago, admitted having a horse like Gin Martini is “unbelievably important” to his emerging syndications business.
“We have been lucky to be well represented at The Championships in recent years and this is Gin Martini’s third straight year competing at the Randwick carnival,” Moss said.
“The day she ran in the Champagne Stakes two years ago, she was going to be in the finish when she was almost knocked over and we realised then she was going to be quite a special horse for us.
“She ran a very good third in the Oaks last year and her run in the Chairman’s last week has her ready for the Sydney Cup.
“It’s always important for a syndication business like mine to have a flag-bearing horse like her.
“When she shows up on raceday, you know exactly what you are going to get, she tries so hard every time. I think she has a bit of a following with the general public because of her name and looks.”
Gin Martini winning the Sandown Cup last spring. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images
Gin Martini is a big, powerful chestnut with flashy white markings but what is the inspiration behind the name?
“Her dam, Tanqueray, is a brand of gin,” Moss revealed.
“We tried a few different gin names which were denied but ended up going with Gin Martini which is quite catchy.”
Moss named his business “Tricolours” in memory of his late father, Jack, who was a passionate Sydney Roosters fan before passing away with lung cancer in 2004.
The first horse Moss purchased was a filly called Miss Moana. She was good enough to contest the VRC and ATC Australian Oaks in the 2018-19 season, finishing unplaced in both before running third in the South Australian Oaks.
Moss remembered Miss Moana when he went to the 2020 Karaka Sale in New Zealand looking for another staying filly.
“I stumbled across this filly by Rip Van Winkle who was bred by Miss Moana’s breeders,” Moss said.
“Rip Van Winkle was the sire of Te Akau Shark and Jennifer Ecles who were flying at the time, and the filly was nicely bred on her dam’s side with Tanqueray.
“So, I thought why not go back to dig for oil where we found it before.”
Gin Martini has developed into an outstanding staying mare and ticked the 3200m box when she won the Sandown Cup last spring.
Sargent has the mare going better than ever this autumn, winning the Group 3 Epona Stakes before her luckless third to Surefire in the Chairman’s last week.
“Every preparation she gets better and better and is still on an upward spiral,” Moss said.
“In the Epona, she was caught wide and it was a big effort to win the race but I think she’s a horse that needs to build momentum and have some galloping room anyway.
“Then last Saturday, she was incredibly tough finishing third. The plan has always been to run in the Chairman’s and back-up in the Sydney Cup.
“A strong hitout on a track that was wet and testing was just what she needed.”
