A racing partnership that stretches back decades continues this weekend as Ron Quinton saddles up promising colt Signor Tortoni at Randwick.
The three-year-old is owned by siblings Sandy Tait and Jill Nivison, whose family colours—red with a white cap—have been worn by champions like Tie The Knot and Spinning Hill.
Quinton’s connection with the Tait family dates back to his riding days.
“I rode for the Tait family, Sandy and (wife) Kathy, and I also rode for Sandy’s mum and dad, Griff and Daisy Tait,” he said.
“Since I started training, they have basically always had a horse with me.”
Signor Tortoni is bred in the purple—by Too Darn Hot and out of Tortoni, who produced Cherry Tortoni and Wings Of Song.
“He is a very well bred horse,” Quinton said. “I’m also going to train a half-relation to him, a filly by St Mark’s Basilica.”
With two wins and three placings from six starts, he steps up in class for Saturday’s The Agency Real Estate Handicap (1300m) as a $5.50 chance.
Quinton also runs Rantan in the last, who’s been backed from $26 into $9.50.
“She hasn’t been getting beaten far with no luck,” he said.
“If things just went her way she could certainly be in the finish.”