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By Ray Hickson

You can’t ask a lot more of any horse than to win their first five starts and trainer Mark Minervini says the sky’s the limit for Quick Tempo if he can extend his run to six at Randwick on Saturday.

Trainer Mark Minervini (Pic: Steve Hart)

The $20,000 purchase has already more than paid his way, banking over $93,000, but there’s no telling where the gelding will find himself beyond the Petaluma Handicap (1100m).

Minervini said he’s already had Hong Kong interest in the horse, which could accelerate if he goes six from six, but at this stage the owners are happy to keep him here and perhaps look at the autumn carnival three-year-old races.

“We’ve had interest on him from Hong Kong and if he happens to win a race in town and make it six we’d get some serious offers,’’ he said.

“We’ve got the Championships in the autumn, the Brisbane winter carnival, we’ve got plenty of options with him if he can keep raising the bar and measure up.”

The logical race for a three-year-old sprinter in the autumn is the Group 2 $1m Arrowfield Sprint (1200m) on Day 2 of The Star Championships.

Quick Tempo might be making his city debut but he’s beaten older horses in all five starts, from 900m to 1100m and from a Good 4 to a Heavy 10 so has more than earned the chance.

He made it five from five scoring over 900m at Newcastle back on December 18 and in that race the gelding had to chase a runaway leader then respond to a challenge, that’s what impressed his trainer.

“I thought on top of the ground, and he’s only a three-year-old who had a bit of weight to carry against older horses, when he was challenged half way up the straight I thought he might be in trouble,’’ he said.

“But he dug deep and at the finish he was coming away.

“He’s got a terrific turn of foot, he’s very quick. He galloped here during the week, I didn’t clock him and it was raining but to me it looked terrific work and he wouldn’t have blown out a candle.”

Tom Sherry has the ride on Saturday, he’s no stranger to the horse having partnered him in his second barrier trial and it was then that Minervini promised the premier apprentice the ride when he came to town.

He was $4.80 with TAB on Wednesday and Minervini said he’d like Sherry to make good use of an inside barrier. Otherwise, he’s quietly confident the horse will measure up.

“I’d like to see him just behind the speed, I’d rather have something to chase but that will be Tom Sherry’s job,’’ he said.

“On his work and appearance I’d give him a great chance but he’s got to rise in class again and prove he’s up to them.”

Minervini and Sherry also combine with two-year-old debutant Fire And Ice in the Heineken 3 Handicap (1000m) and, a bit like Quick Tempo, he could race his way into better races if he proves worthy.

Quick Tempo wins at Newcastle on December 18

The colt is a grandson of Vormista, who Minervini trained and regards as the best horse he’s trained, and that’s what attracted him to the son of Hellbent.

He’s trialled twice, running third at Wyong then winning on the Warwick Farm synthetic in the latter part of December.

“He’s a really forward, mature, two-year-old,’’ he said.

“Everything we’ve asked him to do he’s done it really well. He’s eligible for the Inglis Millennium so we’re hoping to pick up prizemoney and gain a start.

“He’s nominated for the big races, we’re more hopeful than confident but he’s ready to go to the races.”

The $2m Inglis Millennium (1100m) is run at Randwick on February 5.

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Randwick meeting