By Nicholas Berney
Ron Quinton will bring two leading chances to Gosford on Thursday, and punters were quick to back both runners in early markets.
The trainer has an excellent record when bringing runners to this track. Throughout his career, he has saddled up 136 runners at Gosford for 31 winners at a profit on turnover of 21.3 per cent.
Ron Quinton has a great record at Gosford.Credit: Getty
Lightly raced three-year-old I Stole It profiles well for the Sneddon Bros Maiden Plate (1200m) and is ready to peak third-up.
The gelding was run to suit last start, but he showed a strong turn of foot and ran on hard, clocking one of the meeting’s fastest last 200m splits to finish second.
To add further merit to the performance, that race rated highly relative to the day, and all key indicators suggest the rise in trip will be ideal.
He has a positive race set-up where he can settle closer from the kind draw and brings the best last-start figure.
Godolphin filly Nanshe looms as a key danger, returning from a 181-day spell. She raced well last preparation.
Moreover, she wasn’t suited to sit-sprint race shapes, had excuses, and looks to have come back improved after two solid trials.
The three-year-old wasn’t extended in her latest heat at Hawkesbury and went through the line full of energy.
Quinton’s second galloper Smart As Smart was impressive in a last-start win and will look to go back-to-back in the McGrath Central Coast Benchmark 64 Handicap (1600m).
The three-year-old overcame multiple factors to score at the same track and distance he tackles on Thursday, and his win was full of merit.
He wasn’t suited to the pace of the race, had to make two runs while making a long-wide, sustained sprint and had nothing to bring him into the race.
Further, he savaged the line, and the clock backed up his late visual strength.
Everything about his ratings/sectional profile suggests he can improve again, and he is a middle-distance type on the way up.
Martini Crusader will look to spoil the party and is a runner who can mix his form.
However, he had excuses last start when starting a well-fancied favourite and can bounce back at this track, where he holds a strong record.
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
