Ron Quinton will be offered two live chances of winning the Group 1 Coolmore Classic in a fortnight after popular mare Dixie Blossoms powered home to win the Group 2 Guy Walter Stakes (1400m) at Randwick this afternoon.
Quinton saddled Dixie Blossom’s stable mate Daysee Doom to a smart win in the Group 2 Millie Fox Stakes (1300m) last weekend and confirmed that the feature race on March 17th will be the next point of call for both mares, following their respective first-up wins.
“It’s going to be one of the best Coolmores you’ve ever seen, I reckon,” Quinton said after the Guy Walter Stakes.
“We saw the previous winner of the Surround Stakes (Shoals), it won the Myer in Melbourne and she’s a quality horse and there’s plenty of them around!
“They’ll both go straight into the Coolmore now and see what happens.”
Jumping from the gates well this afternoon, jockey Christian Reith elected to take a position at the tail of the field with Dixie Blossoms ($2.60) as Kiwi raider Francaletta ($3.90) and Danish Twist ($9.50) traded blows on the speed.
Having the mare steadily work through her gears turning for home, Reith was offered a clear line on the outside of the Guy Walter Stakes field and immediately went about running down the race leaders.
Finding the pace with 300m to travel, the Street Sense mare locked in a fierce sprint battle with Godolphin mare Raiment ($7.50), but was too strong over the concluding stages of the race and successfully defend the crown that she won in this race in 2017.
Quinton was relieved to see that Dixie Blossoms returned to racing in winning form this afternoon.
“Very relieved. We thought we had her in great order,” the veteran trainer said.
“She was in a little awkward sort of position, but she got the job done to that’s the main thing. It was a nice pacing ride by Christian.
“You win when you can and you’re relieved when you do!”
Dixie Blossoms has firmed into early Coolmore Classic odds of $10 following this afternoon’s impressive performance.