Latest News

By Ray Hickson

There was so much trainer Robert Quinn could take out of Miyoshi’s debut performance a fortnight ago to be confident she’s a good chance of breaking through at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.

Trainer Robert Quinn (Pic: Bradley Photos).

Not only did the filly step out with just one trial under her belt, she struck a heavy 10 and had to concede some five or six lengths to the winner Waverider Buoy, an odds-on favourite, who had been gifted the lead.

Quinn said watching her hit the line to run the winner to under half a length was encouraging going into the TAB Handicap (1200m) where he and jockey Tyler Schiller concur the youngster will relish an extra 100m on her debut and benefit from the experience.

“That was Tyler’s first point of reference when he came in,’’ Quinn said.

“Initially the plan had been to give her a second trial but with all the wet tracks and trial meetings abandoned we just thought we’d take her to her home track and give her a nice introduction.

“You could see her last 50m was the best. We do feel 1200m will suit her and hopefully in time she will get out over further.”

Miyoshi, $6.50 with TAB on Tuesday, clocked a race best 37.50 (Punter’s Intelligence) for her last 600m on debut, some two lengths faster than her rivals, and 12.55 for her last 200m (again two lengths quicker).

“She definitely surprised us but I told Tyler going out there’s an engine there. He wasn’t overly hard on her in the run and she kept finding the line,’’ Quinn said.

“So we were delighted with that and we hope she can build on it.

“She’s come out of the race really well, her coat looks great and she’s eaten up well. I couldn’t be happier with how her demeanour is.”

The Warwick Farm trainer hopes Schiller can make use of a favourable draw and position Miyoshi a bit closer in the run and be at least midfield.

He said while she is still giving away some experience to many of the opposition what she lacks in that department she makes up for in determination.

“She’s got a real gritty attitude, you can tell that in her work and the way she conducts herself,’’ he said.

“She’s a laid back filly but when you ask something of her she gives her all. Hopefully the run has taught her something and she won’t be too far away.”

It’s been a month since Quinn’s in-form stayer Marakopa’s latest appearance and the trainer says that gap won’t harm his chances in the Furphy Handicap (2200m).

A decision to bypass the Grafton Cup is largely behind the gelding’s absence in recent weeks, though he was due to run at Randwick last Saturday, but Quinn said the freshen up will be to his long term benefit.

“It all worked in that we would leave the gap between runs. We expect a real forward showing from him,’’ he said.

“He’s in the form of his life, his last two runs are indicative of that, and he’s in such great order. He really stays well, he showed that in Brisbane at a higher level.”

Miyoshi runs second at Warwick Farm on July 13

Since Marakopa’s upset win over 2400m at Randwick on May 28, on a heavy 9, he’s run a cheeky fifth in the Group 2 Brisbane Cup then chased home Shameless Miss in the 2600m Stayers Cup at Rosehill on June 25.

Although the five-year-old has 60kg and comes back to 2200m the presence of a horse like The Milkybar Kid could ensure a truly run race and Quinn said any staying test would work in his horse’s favour.

“The Milkybar Kid is a horse on the up but having said that he’s a three-year-old and if there is a chink in his armour it might be late in the race,’’ he said.

“Marakopa has proved he can build and build.”

All the fields, form and replays for Wednesday’s Warwick Farm meeting