The Millie Fox Stakes has long held significance for Ron Quinton, who will be seeking his third win in the fillies and mares’ feature with the improving Watch My Girl.
Quinton trained for the race’s namesake during the latter years of her life, Millie Fox carrying on the legacy of her late husband and prominent owner Stan following his sudden death in the mid-1970s by continuing to race a string of horses until her passing in 1999.
A former star jockey, Quinton was in the early years of his new career when Millie Fox entrusted him with conditioning her team of thoroughbreds.
And when she had the race named in her honour 29 years ago, Quinton dearly hoped to repay Fox’s faith by winning one of the inaugural editions with a mare she owned.
It wasn’t to be.
“I had those good mares for her, Amber and Timeless Winds, and I was trying my heart out to win the Millie Fox for her with one of hers,” Quinton said.
“I didn’t win it with one of hers, but I ended up winning it with one of my others.”
His breakthrough came with Wynciti in 1999 before Daysee Doom followed suite in 2018.
On Saturday, Quinton will saddle up Watch My Girl and while she may not be in the class of his previous winners, he says her biggest asset is her grit.
“The only thing that will stop her from being a really nice filly is she hasn’t got great acceleration,” Quinton said.
“She keeps at it and keeps going…. And she is tough. If it comes down to a struggle, she will be in for the fight and she ought to be able to have a good run in the race from the alley.”
Watch My Girl has drawn barrier two in the field of nine and with regular rider Jason Collett committed to rival Firestorm, Quinton is keeping it in the family with the booking of Collett’s sister Alysha.
Watch My Girl has a handy record of five wins from 12 starts and was beaten just over three lengths at her only foray into black-type grade in the Angst Stakes during the spring.
