Gifted El Roca four-year-old Martell added to his burgeoning record when he proved in a league of his own at Tauranga.
The Gerry Harvey-raced and raced representative proved far too good for his Rating 75 opposition over 1200 metres for his fifth victory from just 14 career appearances.
El Roca was also on the board in Singapore on Saturday evening when Combustion doubled his winning tally.
Martell was quickly into stride to make the running and the gelding was willing in the run home for rider Sam Spratt.
“I was a bit worried about the 59kg, but he does love these wet tracks,” said trainer and former multiple Group 1-winning jockey Jim Collett.
“Sam summed it up perfectly and hugged the rail and he’s a lovely horse who deserved it.”
Martell was hotly challenged early in the run home, but when Spratt asked him to lengthen stride he responded in style and raced clear to score by 2.3l with fellow Westbury Stud graduate Gwen’s Daughter a sound third on her return.
“We weren’t necessarily going to lead, but he jumped well and we got there easily,” Spratt said.
“He did it nicely and slipped through the ground beautifully.”
Martell is the first foal of the Makfi mare Myrcella, who was successful on four occasions up to 1200 metres.
She is a half-sister to the well-performed dual Australian Group 2 winner Fontelina, who also finished runner-up in the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes and the G1 William Reid Stakes.
The second dam Electrique was a two-time winner at the highest level in the Australia Stakes and Flight Stakes.
Myrcella has an unraced two-year-old filly by Telperion and has since produced a son and daughter of El Roca and is back in foal to the son of Fastnet Rock.
Meanwhile, the Richard Lim-trained Combustion took his time to break his maiden and wasted no time following up his initial success with victory over 2000 metres at Kranji.
He broke his maiden at his 15th attempt at his previous outing and struck again in the hands of Ryan Curatolo.
The gelding was a five-time placegetter as I’m On Fire from the stable of Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott before relocating to Singapore and is out of a half-sister to the multiple Group 1 winner Silent Achiever.
