Fresh from claiming the feature race of the summer with Monton, trainer Ron Quinton will chase smaller pickings at Canterbury on Saturday.
Quinton, a renowned mentor of jockeys, teamed up with his former student Hugh Bowman to win the Group Two Villiers Stakes with Monton last weekend.
On Christmas Eve he will call on his latest protege, three-kilo claiming apprentice Sam Clipperton, to partner Liechtenstein in the Canterbury Park Handicap (1250m).
“He’s ridden him quite a bit and the horse races as good for him as for anyone,” Quinton said.
“He always seems to be up in the weights so it’s nice to drag a bit of weight off as well.”
Liechtenstein will carry 53.5kg after Clipperton’s claim and will meet his last-start conqueror So So Sure two kilos better for being beaten just a quarter of a length.
He has drawn ideally in barrier one, the same gate Monton came from to win the Listed Festival Stakes earlier this month with Clipperton aboard.
A former top jockey, Quinton does a fantastic job with his small team and of his last 10 metropolitan wins, half have been in stakes races.
Along with Monton’s black-type double this month, Quinton won the Group Three Adrian Knox Stakes with Crafty Irna, the Listed Wenona Girl with Ofcourseican and last season’s Listed Reginald Allen with M’Lady Pedrille.
Liechtenstein’s strike rate isn’t quite as good but it’s not for want of trying.
The four-year-old has won two of his 15 starts and been runner-up seven times.
Quinton admits it has been a frustrating ride at times and would love the gelding to notch another victory for his owners.
“Hugh (Bowman) has always maintained the horse does his best when he’s ridden him,” Quinton said.
“He’s ultra-consistent.
“He’s only been out of the first four once in 15 starts.
“It’s just a shame he doesn’t win a bit more.”
AAP TURF
