Quinn wins on his terms
RACING:
Mighty Quinn mightn’t set the world on fire of a morning, but he gets the job done for Todd Banks when it counts.
The ex-Victorian celebrated his second career victory at Clifford Park on Saturday night, almost two years to the day after breaking his maiden at Geelong.
Trainer Banks said the gelding continues to amaze him, taking it easy in the lead-up and producing on race day.
“He’s hard to get a gauge of. The more work you give him, the slower he gets,” Banks said.
“He’s a terrible trackworker. You could run him down in your gumboots.
“When I first bought him, I thought they sold us a dud, but on race day he seems to be a different horse.
“He’s no superstar, but he puts in at every run which is all you can ask.”
Mighty Quinn ($3.80 fav) was well found by punters in the Welcome Back To Clifford Park Ratings Band 0-55 Handicap (1640m), with a well-timed ride from Les ‘Bubba’ Tilley getting the gelding over the line.
The five-year-old sat just behind the speed, and despite being forced to change path behind a wayward Stryking
Emerald ($8.50), came up along the inside to score by a head.
Despite being tested over as far as 12 furlongs in Victoria, Banks believes his best is around the mile.
“He’s had long staying form but he just seemed tired when he first got here,” he said.
“I tried to put some fresh legs into him and his last few starts the races haven’t been run to suit him.
“On Saturday night, Bubba Tilley rode him a treat. That’s how we wanted him ridden, and Bubba really clicked with him. He dug deep and won pretty well.
“I think his best is over 1600-2000m.”
Punters had a tough time of it at times throughout the eight-race card, with Heavenly Archer ($31) and Dreamalina ($21) both scoring at big odds.
Former Toowoomba trainer Tony Gollan closed out the program in style, with War’s End ($3.10) demolishing rivals by 4 ½ lengths, and Youngblood ($2.30 fav) scoring by 2 ¼ lengths to end the night on a high.
# TONY and Maddysen Sears had a day to remember across southeast Queensland, with four winners at three different venues.
It started at Ipswich in the opening two events on the card, with Bangers And Mayo proving far too strong in the QTIS Two-Years-Old Handicap (1666m), bolting in by 3 ¼ lengths.
They made it a race-to-race double with Barefoot showing his rivals a clean pair of heels to score in the Benchmark 85 Handicap (1666m).
Sertin gave them three for the day at the Gold Coast, edging out Remember Mary (Brian Azel) in the Benchmark 68 Handicap (900m), before Eleuthera scored at Clifford Park.
Fighting Teo returned to the winner’s circle at Ipswich, proving too strong in the Open Handicap (2150m), getting in by a half length from Romakash (Matt Kropp).
sean.teuma@thechronicle.com.au