Julia Martin is still coming to terms with her milestone victory at Belmont on Saturday.
Bombay Style produced an upset victory at $19 in the Quayclean Handicap (1650m), handing Martin her first city success.
It was a dream come true for the Geraldton-based trainer, but the reality of her ground-breaking win has taken time to sink in.
“How cool was that.” Martin told The Races WA.
“I had to wake up in the middle of the night and ask myself did it really happen.
“I still can’t believe it, it’s awesome. I’m so happy.
“I can’t believe it’s happened, let alone on a Saturday.
“I reckon I’ve watched the replay about 30 times.”
Bombay Style, a Blackfriars gelding, came to Martin after previous stints with Perth trainer’s Neville Parnham and Tiarnna Robertson.
Saturday win boosted the six-year-old’s record to three wins and four placings since teaming up with Martin early last year.
When an opportunity presented to purchase Bombay Style, Martin had no hesitation in extending her role to ownership.
Martin was keen to roll him out for another campaign, but those plans hit a mini hurdle after he copped a few minor setbacks.
“Peter Maver wanted to sell him and I wanted to buy him,” Martin said.
“After a three month spell we brought him back but he ended getting sick, not colic, but a high temperature.
“That put me back for another couple of months and then he got a lung infection.
“We ended up getting him back and he pulled up well from his runs.
“It didn’t seem to bother him much, but he gets well looked after.”
Ridden by Jade McNaught, Bombay Style led from start to finish and defeated Lonehand Larry by a long-head.
Martin said she went into the race with only modest expectations.
“If he had finished anywhere in the first five I would have been stoked,” Martin said.
“It makes it worthwhile and the prizemoney is good.
“But I didn’t think he was going to win it.”
Martin’s maiden Perth victory was 12 years in the making since she took out her trainer’s license.
Despite having every reason to dine out on her breakthrough, Martin kept it all in check.
Notwithstanding her excitement there was no lavish late night celebrations.
“I slept at my sister’s house and I bought them all Chinese for dinner,” Martin said.
“I lashed out (laughs).”
