Trainer Ron Quinton is set to partner with apprentice Siena Grima in a bid for the $1 million The Hunter at Newcastle, a combination that may prove to be a stroke of luck.
Grima, who is indentured to leading trainer Chris Waller, will be riding Signor Tortoni for Quinton for only the second time in Saturday’s 1300-metre feature event.
Quinton, a former champion jockey, is well-known for his success in developing apprentices, including prominent riders like Hugh Bowman and Sam Clipperton.
While Grima isn’t formally under his training, Quinton’s decision to book her for a lucrative race indicates his confidence in her riding abilities.
Quinton shared that one of the qualities he admires in Sydney’s current champion apprentice is her status as a “winner rider”.
“She had one ride for me the other day and I said to her before the race, ‘they tell me you can win on anything. Give it a crack’,” Quinton explained. “She rode a horse that probably didn’t have much chance and only got beaten a length or so. I said to her afterwards, ‘I’ll give you a ride another day after that’. She’s champion apprentice. She’s won a Group One, and she wins regularly, That’s all you need.”
Signor Tortoni’s recent performance saw him finish a close second to Polyglot in the Choisir Handicap (1100m) at Randwick on Melbourne Cup Day.
Before that race, he was unplaced in the Sydney Stakes, and has a single placing from his previous starts over the 1300-metre distance of The Hunter.
The gelding has drawn barrier 13, but this could potentially become barrier 10 if all the emergencies do not gain a start.
“He’s in good order. He’s up to 1300 and I’ve been dying to give him a crack at 1300,” Quinton said. “There might be strong tempo because you’re going to have sixteen runners and with the 1300-metre start – the 1200 at Newcastle is diabolical, and the 1300 is only an extra 100 metres – it’s going to be pretty competitive going to that first corner.”
Signor Tortoni has carried weights ranging from 58kg to 60kg in his last three appearances, but will drop to the 53kg minimum in The Hunter. Quinton believes this weight advantage is significant.
“He’s been carrying big weights every time he runs,” he noted. “Some people think that over sprint distances, it doesn’t matter about weight, but I believe they can carry a lighter weight easier. He’s up to a 95 rater now and it makes it hard to place them. And they never drop them, they always put them up. And he’s consistent. He’s paid for his consistency. But Saturday, he might be a chance.”
Betting markets for the race are expected to be competitive, with punters able to find options at Australian betting sites.