Racing: Timaru trip could pay off for Quinn

Niall Quinn.
Niall Quinn.
A trip to Timaru could be well worth it for Niall Quinn today.

The jumps jockey has three rides at the meeting, including two for Riverton trainer Kelly Thompson.

Quinn joined up with the Thompson-trained Keep It Tight and Cecil at Wingatui on May 31 - although that was two weeks later than he had hoped.

''Normally he uses one of Kevin Myers' riders and he wanted to claim last time,'' Quinn said from Wanganui yesterday.

''I was supposed to ride them at the Great Western [meeting on May 17] but I got suspended.''

Cecil showed fighting qualities to win the Otago Hurdle at Wingatui, picking up Harry Hill in the shadows of the post for the victory.

Judging by the way he rounded off the race at Wingatui, the extra 300m of today's restricted open hurdle should not be a major concern for the 7yr-old.

''He really had to try quite hard to get up at Wingatui,'' Quinn said.

''He really dug deep, especially over the last couple of fences, and he kept coming and got there on the line.''

The $20,000 race is close to the strongest hurdle race in the South Island so far this year, with Grand National Hurdle winner Gargamel coming back to the hurdles after two steeplechase runs.

''And you've still got Supercharged and Needastar in there, so it will be a good race.''

Keep It Tight (race 5) picked up an extra 0.5kg for his second to High Forty in the Otago Steeplechase, although Quinn's 2.5kg claim will bring down the gelding's carried weight to 67kg.

High Forty has been penalised 1.5kg for today's 4280m chase, but Quinn is wary of the Brian and Shane Anderton-trained 8yr-old.

''High Forty is a super horse,'' he said.

''But I think Keep It Tight is a nice horse, too, and he's a lovely jumper.''

Quinn suggested McCulley, who carries 66kg after Shaun Fannin's 1.5kg claim, could be a threat from the Kevin Myers team.

''He went a good race at Ellerslie to run third to Amanood Lad.''

Keep It Tight adopted a front-running role at Wingatui, and Quinn will look for something similar today.

''We'll try and put him up there probably again and bowl along in front, hopefully.''

Quinn's other ride, Prince Eden (race 2), looks like a hurdler gaining in confidence after two attempts at the hurdles.

''He jumps quite nice but it's a good maiden field so hopefully he goes a nice race.''

• New Zealand has lost one of its most successful breeders and owners with the recent death of Phil Bayly. He was 92.

His familiar red and black stripe silks were carried to group 1 successes on both sides of the Tasman by such outstanding gallopers as (My) Blue Denim, Eagle Eye, Harris Tweed and the ill-fated Lion Tamer.

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