Trainer Ron Quinton is set to team up with apprentice Siena Grima for a shot at the $1 million The Hunter at Newcastle, a partnership that, while not a traditional master-apprentice dynamic, could prove serendipitous.
Grima, currently indentured to leading trainer Chris Waller, will be in the saddle for only her second ride under Quinton’s guidance when she pilots Signor Tortoni in Saturday’s 1300-metre feature race.
Quinton, a former champion jockey himself, has a well-documented history of fostering the riding careers of numerous successful apprentices, including notable names like Hugh Bowman and Sam Clipperton.
Although Grima is not formally under his tutelage, Quinton’s decision to entrust her with a ride in such a lucrative event speaks volumes about his confidence in her abilities.
Quinton highlighted one of the traits he values in Sydney’s reigning champion apprentice, describing her as a “winner rider”.
“She had one ride for me the other day and I said to her before the race, ‘they tell me you can win on anything. Give it a crack’,” Quinton recounted. “She rode a horse that probably didn’t have much chance and only got beaten a length or so. I said to her afterwards, ‘I’ll give you a ride another day after that’. She’s champion apprentice. She’s won a Group One, and she wins regularly, That’s all you need.”
Signor Tortoni enters Saturday’s contest following a narrow second-place finish behind Polyglot in the Choisir Handicap (1100m) at Randwick on Melbourne Cup Day.
Prior to that effort, he finished outside the placings in the Sydney Stakes, and has managed a placing in only one previous start over the 1300-metre distance of The Hunter.
The gelding faces an initial challenge from barrier 13, though this may improve to barrier 10 should all emergencies fail to gain a start.
“He’s in good order. He’s up to 1300 and I’ve been dying to give him a crack at 1300,” Quinton stated. “There might be strong tempo because you’re going to have sixteen runners and with the 1300-metre start – the 1200 at Newcastle is diabolical, and the 1300 is only an extra 100 metres – it’s going to be pretty competitive going to that first corner.”
Having carried weights between 58 and 60 kilograms in his last three outings, Signor Tortoni is set to carry the 53kg limit in The Hunter. While the impact of handicapping can be debated, Quinton views this weight drop as significant.
“He’s been carrying big weights every time he runs,” he commented. “Some people think that over sprint distances, it doesn’t matter about weight, but I believe they can carry a lighter weight easier. He’s up to a 95 rater now and it makes it hard to place them. And they never drop them, they always put them up. And he’s consistent. He’s paid for his consistency. But Saturday, he might be a chance.”
For those keen on the action, exploring Australian betting sites could offer competitive racing odds on The Hunter.