Special lesson from a late great still guides Group I trainer

Clinton Payne - Wednesday August 16

Some of the programming of a couple of Australia's best race mares in recent seasons hails from a lesson learned from a late Hall of Fame trainer back in 1987.

Advertisement
Colin Hayes and Special.

Randwick-based Ron Quinton, also an Australian racing Hall of Fame inductee for his deeds in the saddle, has tasted plenty of success in recent seasons with the likes of Group I winner Peeping, and top class stakes performers Dixie Blossom and Daysee Doom, both of which will race at Randwick on Saturday.

It was a Canterbury meeting on March 21 in 1987 that Quinton remembers when he was given a lesson that he is now using in his training methods more than 30 years later and will adopt on Saturday when Dixie Blossom carries 58.5kg in the Group III Toy Show Quality (1300m).

"She gets plenty of weight but I've always remembered what Colin Hayes said to me when I was riding Special," Quinton said. "He believed the fillies and mares we're better off carrying the big weights against their own sex.

"One day he had Special in a fillies and mares race with topweight and an open flying handicap on the limit.

"He asked me what do I reckon she should run in and I said 'she's got no weight in the flying' but he said 'no, no we'll run her against the mares. She'll beat them with the big weight' which she did and it's something I've never forgotten.

"He went alright at this training caper so it's something I've followed."

Special won the Birthday Card Stakes that day with 60kg.

Quinton has adopted a different approach with Daysee Doom on Saturday but he was forced into that decision because the mare came back into work two weeks after Dixie Blossom.

Daysee Doom runs in the Group III Show County Quality (1200m).

"She was back in work two weeks after the other mare that's why I'm sticking to the 1200m race," he said.

"Andrew (Adkins) thinks she's come back better again this preparation. It's a good positive thing if he's any judge."

Quinton said what you see is what you get with both Dixie Blossom and Daysee Doom and "they both appear they've come back really well".

"I expect them both to run really well," he said.

"They're such tough competitors, they never lays down and will both run well.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Written By Filly Dominates Warwick Farm Juvenile Contest
First seen at the two-year-old trials back in September, Marc Conners’ chestnut filly Penpel (Written By) produce a quality effort at just her second racetrack appearance, racing clear at Warwick Farm to score by more than three lengths.
Second Winner For Ghaiyyath As Observer Scores By Five
Second on debut when just three parts of a length off the winner at Pakenham, the James Cummings’ trained Observer (Ghaiyyath) looked sensational as he made a mess of his rivals to score over 1400m in the Tile Importer Handicap on the Sandown Lakeside course.
Stakes Performed Zousain Filly Too Good At Doomben
Third in the Listed Calaway Stakes two starts back, lightly raced two-year-old Zousain filly Sweet Pretender produced the goods at Doomben, charging late to win the Mullins Lawyers QTIS Two-Year-Old Maiden Plate (1350m).
Frosty Girl impressive on debut
The Chris Waller-trained Frosty Girl made the perfect start to her career when coming from last to land the Asahi Super Dry Plate (1300m) on debut at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
Blueblood Import - American-Bred Jillaroo Records First Win
Purchased at the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale by Ciaron Maher, the now 4yo mare Jillaroo (USA) (Curlin) initially started her racing career in the United States but after an Australian debut second at Caulfield in early May, recorded her maiden victory at Doomben.
Wootton Bassett 2YOs on the March
Wootton Bassett’s star Northern Hemisphere two year-old Albert Einstein has been ruled out of Royal Ascot with a sprained joint that will require a few weeks off, but the red hot sire added two more talented debut winning juvenile colts at The Curragh overnight.
Third Stakes Success For Justify’s Spicy Martini
A winner of four from six, three at stakes level highlighted by the reschedule Group 3 Fred Best Classic (1350m), the Toby Edmonds & Stephen McLean trained Spicy Martini (Justify) will now head to the Group 1 Stradbroke with just 49.5kgs on her back – not bad for an $8,000 online yearling purchase!
Sires With Winners - Wednesday June 4
Here is the full list of 48 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
$1500 Weanling Becomes $525,000 Top Lot at MM National Yearling Finale
A colt by Harry Angel set a new benchmark in Australia for his sire and topped the final day of the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale when selling for $525,000 to conclude a hugely successful two weeks of sales.
Pride of Jenni to Visit I Am Invincible - Match Made in Heaven
Three-time Champion Sire I Am Invincible has been confirmed as the first mating for reigning Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year Pride Of Jenni, who will head to the breeding barn this season following a phenomenal racing career.