Boosting the broodmare value of stablemates Irish Dream and Onecatstoomany is the aim for trainer Ron Quinton in Saturday’s Winter Stakes at Warwick Farm.
Quinton said the 1400 metre end-of-season Listed event was an opportunity for the two rising six-year-olds to chase valuable black type.
The Randwick trainer was originally looking to only start Irish Dream in the Winter Stakes and save Onecatstoomany for a 1300m race on the program, but after a discussion with Onecatstoomany’s owner David Bentata it was decided to have a crack at the day’s feature.
“The owner is a breeder and she (Onecatstoomany) is a five-year-old mare,” Quinton said.
“Whether she goes to stud this year I’m not sure, but if she could get a bit of black type that would help her.
“That’s the same with the other mare, Irish Dream.
“She’s been Listed placed before but if she could do that or even go a bit better that would be good for her.
“That’s the reason they are in it.”
Onecatstoomany is only lightly-raced with three wins from 15 starts and the Winter Stakes will be her first attempt in stakes company.
The daughter of One Cool Cat finished second to the smart Magic Cassius at Newcastle two starts back before a close second to Winter Stakes rival Embark at Rosehill.
The Winter Stakes will be her first attempt beyond 1200 metres.
“The 1400 metres is a query for Cats (Onecatstoomany) but sometimes the tempo of the 1400 races can be different to 1200, especially at Warwick Farm, and that will suit her,” the trainer said.
“She’s got good speed and if she can amble along it might give her a chance to kick off the corner. She’s a good galloper but the 1400 metres might just find her out.”
Irish Dream has only had three starts for Quinton since joining his team from Peter Moody.
Her best stakes result was when she was runner-up in the 2010 Listed Just Now Quality in Brisbane when in the care of Gillian Heinrich.
“Irish Dream will run the trip right out and that gives her a chance of running well,” Quinton said.
“All of her runs for me have been sound.
“It’s probably not an overly strong Listed race which gives her an opportunity.”
