TWENTY millimetres of overnight rain almost spoiled Port Macquarie trainer Marc Quinn and Cogliere’s syndicate of owners’ weekend in Taree on Sunday.
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Saturday’s small downpour threatened to derail the three-year-old’s Country Championships qualifying heat, and Quinn’s show at a $400,000 purse at Randwick on April 1.
When Quinn opened the curtains on Sunday morning and saw overcast skies, he admitted to a feeling of nervousness.
“I was really concerned when we had rain on Saturday because I was sure I had the horse at 100 per cent and had done everything right,” Quinn said.
“I always had an inkling he could handle (the softer conditions), but there is always the chance that another horse can handle it better on the day.”
That inkling proved true for Quinn and jockey Andrew Adkins as the impressive colt stormed home down the outside to win by half a length.
“Andrew put my mind at ease when he said he was only going into an inch and then it was really firm under that,” Quinn said.
The celebrations lasted well into the night.
“We’ve got a syndicate of 10 who make up 10 per cent of (Cogliere), so we all get one per cent of the profit each, but when he wins, we all win,” Quinn said.
“It’s one per cent of the bill and 100 per cent of the thrill and success breeds success.”
Quinn knows it will take another impressive performance in the final at Randwick to claim the $400,000 prize on offer.
“There is still plenty of water to flow under the bridge yet and there are some really good horses who won their heats,” he said.
“All I can do is present him on race day as best I can and if he’s good enough, he’s good enough.”
Quinn believed the three-year-old was primed for a successful season after he gave him a lengthy break over winter.
“He had a three-month spell which really freshened him up leading in to autumn because he had eight starts as a two-year-old which is quite a lot,” he said.
Adkins also continued his recent run of good form to keep a stranglehold on the apprentice jockey’s title with another two wins at Taree.
The 19-year-old steered I Am Serious and Glitterama to success.
Quinn and Adkins both have fond memories of a recent trip to Randwick when Adkins saluted on January 14.
“Andrew is the leading apprentice in Sydney and we go back a fair way,” Quinn said.