Wyong, Port Macquarie previews: Ron Quinton's winter hot streak to continue

Ron Quinton can ensure the month of June is every bit as merry as the month of May with two more of his hot-winter stable dressed up and ready to win at Wyong on Tuesday.
Hall of Famer Quinton led in five winners from just 13 runners in May, three of them attributable to his Wyong -bound Are Ee Que.
Quinton's first June winner Signor Tortoni earned the honour and distinction of becoming Quinton's 750th winner.
Sydney's eight-times Premiership winning jockey and now six-times Group 1 -winning trainer can take his tally to 751 if and when the lightly-raced Fiery Lass can cash in in the Austbrokers 2YO Maiden Handicap (1350m).
Bred by Gall Bloodstock – that's long-term Quinton client and friend Ray Gall – Fiery Lass showed significant improvement from her provincial debut to her second outing, that one at the midweeks.
Last of 11 400m out from the winning post at Canterbury, Fiery Lass was warming to the task late, clocking in a diminishing three-and-a-quarter lengths behind the winner Pillow Fight.
'I thought she ran fair the other day but she needed to finish two lengths closer for me to be getting excited,'' Quinton said.
'But I will give her another run. It is only going to be a small field on Tuesday by the look of it.
'The wide draw won't matter to her, she'll probably settle back anyway.
'We'll know a bit more after (Tuesday) but a suitable for her if she is any good.'
Fiery Lass is a daughter of William Reid Stakes winner Hellbent who stands alongside his illustrious father I Am Invincible (a Gall-owned racehorse back in the day) at the Mitchell's Yarraman Park Stud.
'I like Hellbent,'' Quinton said.
'I think they (his progeny) just need a fraction of time but I don't mind him at all.
'I wouldn't hesitate to buy one.'
Fiery Lass boasts a pedigree so revered that she is destined to one day join Gall's elite broodmare band.
Serious breeding buffs will need only to learn that Fiery Lass's sixth dam is the famed Almahmoud.
Foaled in 1947, Almahmoud is the grand-dam of breed shaper Northern Dancer and the fourth dam of the incomparable, Danehill.
Still on breeding, Quinton has shown himself to be a master of the art, having bred Mnemosyne whose wins for Jack and Bob Ingham included the MRC Thousand Guineas and STC Queen of the Turf Stakes.
The Wyong-bound Are Ee Que is another Quinton design.
Quinton trained her dam Skein whose short, sharp racing career boasted a barnstorming last to first win at Canterbury.
Daughter Are Ee Que's racing pattern couldn't be more different; she's fast from beginning to end – so much so that the daughter of Sidestep has led throughout to win three of her last four starts, all perfectly executed by jockey Madeline Owen.
'Are Ee Que is in good form,'' Quinton began.
'She's been lucky because she's had all these wet tracks which has helped her so much.
'We're hoping she'll run well again (but) there's a pretty big rap on Kris Lees ' horse (Flame Of Hestia) so we'll see what happens.
'Barrier 4 won't be any harm to Are Ee Que. She's not hard to ride, you've just got to rate her a bit and Madeline's been doing that well.'
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Minervini chasing more BOBS riches
Former South Australian-based trainer Mark Minervini is intent on collecting as much extra cash as he can courtesy of his adopted state's BOBS incentive before the season ends.
The one-time master of Morphettville, now a firmly ensconced Novocastrian, Minervini heads to Port Macquarie on Tuesday with BOBS eligible stablemates Mirai San and Tickle Me Pink.
Supido gelding Mirai San is sure to have his share of admirers, Minervini being one, when he makes his debut in today's Coolcene Air Conditioning Maiden Plate (1006m) after back to back seconds in his June trials.
'He's had two trials and he trialled well both times,'' Minervini said.
'We're going there anticipating him to run really well.
'He is very athletic and quite sharp, I think the 1000m will be perfect for him. He's drawn well and he's got Luke Rolls to guide him.'
Mirai San is a son of former rocket Supido.
His grand-dam is Princesa who won the VRC Straight Six and would go on to deliver stakeswinners Star of Giselle and Solicit.
Stablemate Tickle Me Pink earned the dubious honour of 'certainty beaten' when she clocked in second to last at Muswellbrook on June 13 when sent out a red-hot $1.85 favourite.
'Wherever she went, she ran into dead-ends,'' Minervini said.
'All things being equal, I really thought she would have won and won easily and I don't often say that after the race.
'She's drawn well on Monday so I would say you might find her in the first two or three, we'll keep her out of trouble.
'I think she is quite a smart filly.'
Both of Minervini's Port Macquarie participants will be ridden by Luke Rolls who has built an incredibly successful relationship with Vormista's old trainer.
There winning strike-rate going into Monday stands at an enviable 22.7 per cent which increased to 36.4 per cent when placings are added.
Minervini meanwhile has paid homage to his one-time 'banner horse' Quick Tempo upon his retirement this week.
A winner of more than $500,000, Quick Tempo's premium performances include placings in the Ortensia, Warra and Maurice McCarten Stakes.
'He was fantastic for my stable,'' Minervini says. 'Just after we lobbed up here, he was the flag-bearer for quite a while; I owe him a lot,'' Minervini says.
'We found a great 'forever home' for him. He'll be a pleasure horse for a girl who works for Kris Lees, she always liked him and always wanted him so she's taken him on.'

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Gorden Tallis slams Broncos' ‘disrespectful' Selwyn Cobbo move

News.com.au

an hour ago

News.com.au

Gorden Tallis slams Broncos' ‘disrespectful' Selwyn Cobbo move

Gorden Tallis has criticised the Broncos for prioritising re-signing two veteran halfbacks over Selwyn Cobbo, who is potentially the future of the club. Adam Reynolds and Ben Hunt will both play for the Broncos in 2026 in what looms as their final seasons in first grade, but at 23, Cobbo looks like being forced out of a club he doesn't want to leave. Tallis believes the Broncos have been disrespectful to Cobbo by not leaving enough funds in their salary cap to re-sign him. 'The Selwyn Cobbo one is a bit funny to me because I think he is the future of the club,' Tallis said on NRL 360. 'They have re-signed Kotoni Staggs. They have got two 35-year-old No.7's that they re-signed as a priority and they re-signed another hooker when they have got five. 'Then they have got this young talent and they leave $300,000, which I think is a little bit disrespectful for a State of Origin player and I don't think he has lost that much mojo. 'In my opinion when Reece Walsh was out and he went back to fullback, he kept them in a The Daily Telegraph's Phil Rothfield believes Reynolds may have forced Cobbo out of the club. 'The interesting thing is Adam Reynolds said he would not sign a new deal until the other boys had because he didn't want to force anyone out, well he has,' Rothfield said. 'I'm not blaming him, but it was a difficult decision.' Rothfield revealed the Dragons were close to making a play for Cobbo and his asking price shows how far the Broncos are from keeping him. 'Selwyn Cobbo was in Sydney two weeks ago and he visited St George Illawarra and he spoke to coach Shane Flanagan,' Rothfield said. 'They were asking for about $650,000 to $700,000 and St George were quite keen to do a deal for a little bit less than that if they could get him this year because they have had injuries in the outside backs. 'I don't think it is going to happen, but what it does show is how far the Broncos are off the pace with what the kid and the manager are looking for. They are not even halfway there.' Braith Anasta added: 'Let's be honest they think they are still a chance of keeping him, but really they are not.' The Daily Telegraph's Brent Read believes the Broncos could find more room to up their offer to Cobbo, but the problem is his best form has been in a position they don't need him to play. 'Not unless they find another $200,000 or $300,000 and clubs can do that sometimes when they need to,' Read said. 'They can move a couple of blokes and juggle some funds around, but at the moment, I know he played well at fullback for a couple of games, but they don't need a fullback. 'They need him to play well when he is on the wing and he hasn't been playing well, so that's why he is in reserve grade and the kid who has come in Josiah Karapani is doing really well.' 'Maybe he is busted,' Tallis interjected. Rothfield believes Hunt is an interesting signing because he will be trying to break into the hooker rotation when he returns from injury. 'You talk about the old halves they signed and it is an interesting one with Ben Hunt because when he comes back from injury I don't think he is going to play five-eighth,' Rothfield said. 'Ezra Mam is comfortable there and he is obviously the future, so signing Hunt for those two years, not necessarily the Reynolds extension, might be what costs Selwyn Cobbo a spot at that club long-term.' However, Read believes the Broncos are eyeing Hunt as their hooker until Blake Mozer develops into his replacement in 2027. 'I think they are looking at their spine next year with Ben Hunt at hooker and he is a pretty good hooker Ben Hunt,' Read said. 'He is probably the best hooker they have got on their roster. Obviously Cory Paix is not killing it because they are not re-signing him. 'They have obviously made a decision that Ben Hunt will be their hooker and they have got young Blake Mozer on a long-term deal.' Tallis believes the Broncos may have been better off blooding young gun Coby Black at halfback, who led the Maroons to a win in the under 19s Origin last Thursday. 'It's nothing against the two 35-year-old halfbacks, but the future of the club are not two 35-year-old halfbacks,' Tallis said. 'Queensland won the State of Origin with a young 19-year-old halfback that could sit there and get some experience.' 'He will learn off those guys and at some point he will get an opportunity,' Read interjected. 'Yeah, but it is better playing,' Tallis countered. 'It is better getting a taste and you look at the Roosters with their young halves, there is no better way to learn than at the coalface.'