A firm track could bring a welcome change of fortune for trainer Ron Quinton who will bid to land a stakes race double at Hawkesbury on Saturday.
Quinton will start Irish Dream in the Listed Darley Crown (1300m) for fillies and mares, while Monton will step out in the Listed Rowley Mile (1600m).
Both gallopers competed on a heavy track at Randwick on April 20, neither finding it to their liking.
Monton finished among the tailenders in the Doncaster Mile while Irish Dream was midfield in 1400m support race.
Quinton was satisfied with the effort of Irish Dream under the circumstances and predicted an improved showing.
“I thought her run was creditable on a bog track at Randwick,” Quinton said.
“The conditions took away any dash she could have had.
“Her run before that in the Coolmore was quite good too because she’s not quite up to that standard.”
A backmarker, Irish Dream should appreciate the recent $5 million refurbishment of the Hawkesbury track.
The changes included returfing the course proper and extending the home straight by 100m to give horses more time to balance up and hit the line.
The Darley Crown has been a successful race for the breeding and racing conglomerate’s trainer Peter Snowden, as well as a sentimental one.
Sung gave Snowden one of his last winners for the Ingham family in 2008 when the race was known as the Woodlands Crown.
Not long after, Sheikh Mohammed’s deal for Darley to take over the Woodlands operation was finalised and Snowden became its head trainer.
Snowden has twice won Darley’s namesake race for his employers with Serenissima in 2010 and Kanzan 12 months later.
Snowden will saddle up three runners on Saturday – Quidnunc, Aerobatics and Forfeiture.
