Apprentice Jack Martin has had a nervous wait for a photo finish to determine his first city winner for his master Pat Carey.
Trainer Luke Oliver and jockey Brad Rawiller asked to view the photo of the finish of Wednesday’s Ridgeview Park Stud Handicap at Sandown.
After a five minute delay the judge awarded the race to Martin’s mount Taylah’s Secret by a nose over La Consolidata.
After inspecting the finish on a television monitor in the weighing room, Oliver and Rawiller weren’t convinced there was a margin between the two horses.
They sought to view the photo finish with stewards and the mirror image clearly showed a margin in Taylah’s Secret’s favour.
Both Oliver and Rawiller agreed with the judge’s decision.
The victory was Martin’s second metropolitan success, but the first for Carey.
“I’m very happy to get that win for the stable,” Martin said.
“They’ve been a good support over the last year-and-a-half and it’s a pretty good way to get my first city one.”
Martin has three rides on Saturday at Moonee Valley where he has been entrusted with the ride on Carlo Bugatti in the Simpson Construction Handicap for five-time Melbourne Cup winning owner Lloyd Williams.
“I thought my manager was having a joke when he called me on Sunday and told me I had a ride for Mr Williams on Saturday,” Martin said.
“That’s a privilege in itself so hopefully I can do the job right.
“I’ve had a bit of luck lately and hopefully it keeps rolling.”
