Martini The Toast Of The Town After Black Top

French Martini has advanced her already excellent prospects of securing a start in the $1m to-the-winner The Phoenix at The Meadows on December 17 by securing the Group 2 Black Top at The Gardens (515m) on Friday.

Prepared by two-time TAB Million Dollar Chase winning trainer Peter Lagogiane, French Martini only stepped out for the first time on March 4 and showed high speed in a near record 29.22 win at The Gardens before winning the $20,000 to-the-winner Robert Smith Memorial Maiden Final on March 11 in 29.53.

Luckless in the TAB Million Dollar Chase Final at Wentworth Park on September 24, French Martini backed up just six days later to win her Black Top heat in a record breaking 28.96 – the first greyhound to better the 29-seconds mark over 515m at the Newcastle track.

On a rain-soaked track, the speedy Yuko Girl was best to begin from box five in the Black Top yet Zipping Maserati wrested the lead through the first turn and briefly led from race favourite Gatlin ($3) which railed to be at hand while French Martini zipped up three wide.

Adam Brandt has some advice:

"Everyone, get involved in dogs – you never know what can happen!"

French Martini's owner was emotional after the Black Top tonight at @ladbrokescomau Gardens – he & a large group of fans cheered her home to prove dreams can come true! #thedogs pic.twitter.com/0Y8E20RXj5

— The Dogs (@Thedogs_com_au) October 7, 2022

In a few sharp bounds, French Martini cut back to the inside (badly hampering Zipping Maserati) and she held a 2 1/2 lengths break over Gatlin with 150m to run while Fat Boys Dream advanced to third following Zipping Maserati's misfortune.

Late, French Martini comfortably held a charging Zipping Kyrgios to score by three lengths in 29.40 – a commendable mark considering the wet conditions and the trajectory she endured to prevail.

Vive la France! ? ??

French Martini wins the 2022 edition of the Sires on Ice Black Top from Zipping Kyrgios and Gatlin in 29.40!

Full Results: https://t.co/NTPQ6N6bFA#thedogs #greyhoundracing @ladbrokescomau pic.twitter.com/3S7pQ5tgTH

— The Dogs (@Thedogs_com_au) October 7, 2022

The win – her 11^th at start 19 – accelerated French Martini's career earnings to $141,965 and an imminent Victorian campaign will surely be on Lagogiane's ‘drawing board'.

With time on his side to trial at The Meadows, a race like the Silver Bullet (October 31) will appeal while the prestigious Topgun – offering $150,000 – arrives just seven days later.

It's an enticing program for French Martini and her high speed is stylised ideally for The Meadows.

And let's not forget The Phoenix's pre-Christmas $1m purse.

Winning a million dollars is something Peter Lagogiane is pretty good at!