A mare bred to figure in the staying Classics last season will be out to enhance her reputation as a promising sprinter at Canterbury on Wednesday.
The Port Macquarie-trained Pentasia will be chasing her third win in four starts for Marc Quinn in the Canterbury Park Handicap (1100m).
Her midweek assignment could be the forerunner to regular city visits after Grafton and Wyong wins for Quinn.
“As it stands at the moment she is almost graded out of country racing,” Quinn said.
“If she can keep progressing, there are races like the Triscay Stakes and the Breeders Classic coming up.
“My job is to get some black type alongside her name to increase her value as a broodmare but I’ll need to get her rating up to get into those races.”
Pentasia, now a four-year-old, arrived at Quinn’s stables after being trained at Warwick Farm by Guy Walter.
“Being by Pentire out of a Singspiel mare you would have thought the obvious and said she was a mile-and-a-half (2400m) horse,” Quinn said.
“But she’s a neat, compact horse rather than being long and rangy like a stayer.
“She has always shown a turn of foot so all I do is keep her fresh and happy.”
Pentasia posted a 13-length winning margin at her first start for Quinn at Grafton.
She was then beaten at Gosford before sharing some of Wyong’s Magic Millions day spotlight with a well-tried 3-3/4-length win for leading Sydney jockey Glyn Schofield.
“Glyn was more than happy to take the ride at Canterbury so that’s usually a good sign,” Quinn said.
“If the emergencies don’t get a start she’ll come in to barrier four and with the rail out six metres that will be in her favour.”
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