KEY POINTS:
Ross Elliot has always believed Martini Red has little man's disease.
But that's more about her attitude than her smallish frame.
And that frame is not as tiny as some would have you believe.
And, further to that again, ask any of the champion trainers through the years and they'll tell you a little filly with a big heart and the right attitude can win anything.
Elliot can reflect on that as he sets Martini Red for spring classics after a dashing win in Saturday's $60,000 Oceanz Seaford Breeders' Stakes at Ruakaka.
Everyone is waiting to find out just how good Martini Red might be. Don't ask Elliot, because he doesn't know.
He says he hasn't got to the end of the rope with the filly yet.
Martini Red has kept her unbeaten record intact with her absolute brilliance, which leaves you wondering what she will be like if asked to take a trail, something that will move her away from being a one-dimensional horse as she gets to race over further than 1200m against the spring 3-year-old fillies.
"I'm sure she'll take a trail if asked," says Elliot.
That hasn't been possible to date - her sheer speed has meant she hasn't faced a horse fast enough to provide her with a trail.
That's not a unique situation.
In front was a good place for Sunline to race, but even if it hadn't been, the fact was she rarely met a horse with a cruising speed high enough to match or better her own and therefore give her a trail.
Elliot is a relative rookie in the training ranks.
He has done a marvellous job with Martini Red, restricting her to just three races and judging her fitness perfectly without putting undue pressure on an immature body.
He deliberately left her a touch underdone with a six-week gap between races going into Saturday's big race, knowing the filly's class would allow him to get away with it.
That started to show in the final 50m when stablemate Vanny Fair and David Walsh pulled the winning margin back to one length after Rogan Norvall had shot the winner three lengths clear at the top of the home straight, but there was never any suggestion of her being overhauled.
Horses with Martini Red's turn of foot are generally sheer speedsters, but this filly looks more of a push-button type and should be excitement material throughout the spring.
Elliot says he will put the measuring stick on Martini Red this morning.
"When she first came to me she was 14.1 hands.
"She was a typical tiny first foal, but she's grown up and matured and I'd say she's 15.2 hands now."
Martini Red will have a three-week spell on the property of her part owners, Trelawney Stud, and be aimed at the Highview Stakes on September 18.
Elliot can similarly be proud of his achievement with Vanny Fair, who won early in her preparation, but has got better with each start.
"She was a late December foal so she's done an enormous job," says Elliot.
Vanny Fair takes a lot longer to wind into her stride than Martini Red and should reach her potential when she gets beyond 1200m.
"She's definitely looking for more ground," said Elliot.
"She should be pretty smart in her next preparation."
* Rogan Norvall couldn't really complain about the $300 stewards relieved him of for his celebratory victory wave with his whip on Martini Red - there has been plenty of press about stewards' thoughts on the matter lately.
That must have been running through the mind of Jamie Gillies as he approached the winning post on remarkable Van Winkle in Saturday's stunning $60,000 NZCT Wellington Hurdles.
You could read Gillies' mind as he was desperate to wave the whip, but managed to contain the temptation until a stride past the winning post.
