Bathurst trainer Peter Stanley was all praise for Ken Dunbar, who rode Quint Australis to his first ever win in the mare’s 31st start at Wellington on Sunday afternoon.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
It was six-year-old’s second start since a 25 week spell after a 10th place finished at Gundagai on July 1.
The spell has now paid off after a third place finish at Bathurst on December 23 and now a win at Wellington in the Mudgee Machinery Maiden Handicap (1400 metres).
“It was a brilliant ride by Kenny,” he said.
“He jumped out to fourth and the front slowed up in front of her. Quick thinking from Kenny to get around them and up to the front.
“Credit when it’s due.”
Quint Australis drew barrier three and had the lead heading into the home straight.
Dukebox George, trained by Brett Thompson and ridden by Andrew Banks, finished well to be Quint Australis’ only challenger.
If the race was an extra 10 to 20 metres, Dukebox George may have caught Quint Australis but it was not to be as Stanley’s mare finished 0.33 lengths ahead of second.
Stanley said the spell was crucial to help the mare claim her maiden win.
“She’s a big mare. It took time to put weight on her,” he said.
“The spell has levelled her out and she’s come back bigger and stronger.
“I think she’s got another win in her. I giver her three weeks between races because she’s a big horse. She’s showing well and she’ll come back better.
“She always looked like winning but she’s got drew bad or got trapped wide in the past.”
Quint Australis’ previous best placing was her only second place at Muswellbrook on May 22, 2016.
Then trained by Carmen Murnane, Quint Australis finished half a length behind Zadok The Priest.
Not long after, Stanley took over from Murnane as trainer and the mare’s first start for her new trainer was at Hawkesbury on July 24, 2016.
