A relationship that has spanned generations will have its latest instalment when Ron Quinton saddles-up Signor Tortoni at Randwick.
The three-year-old is raced by Sandy Tait and his sister, Jill Nivison, whose families have been involved in racing and breeding for over half a century
The siblings have enjoyed decades of success at the highest level with the likes of Tie The Knot and wonderful mare Spinning Hill, who both carried their famous colours of red with a white cap.
Quinton has been a constant throughout the Tait and Nivison family journeys, firstly as a jockey and more recently a trainer.
“I rode for the Tait family, Sandy and (wife) Kathy, and I also rode for Sandy’s mum and dad, Griff and Daisy Tait,” Quinton recalled.
“Since I started training, they have basically always had a horse with me.
“We’ve had a few winners for them, some fillies and a horse called Smart As Smart who ended up being sold to Queensland, but nothing special.”
Signor Tortoni is Quinton’s current project and a horse who hails from an equine family dear to his owners’ hearts.
The three-year-old’s dam, Tortoni, has produced their Group 1 placegetter Cherry Tortoni and stakes winner Wings Of Song, while Tortoni is also the last foal out of grand producer Whisked, making her a half-sister to Tie The Knot.
“He is a very well bred horse and I’m also going to train a half-relation to him, a filly by St Mark’s Basilica,” Quinton said.
By Too Darn Hot, Signor Tortoni has his share of ability, having finished out of the placings just once in six starts and winning his past two in succession.
He steps up to Saturday grade for the first time in The Agency Real Estate Handicap (1300m) and Quinton is excited to see how he measures up.
“This horse has been running very consistently. He’s only had six starts for two wins, three seconds and a fourth,” he said.
“He has always shown me nice ability. He’s just got to go on with it now.
“I will find out a lot more on Saturday.”
Signor Tortoni will be one of two runners for Quinton, along with Rantan in the final race.
Luck has deserted the filly in three starts this campaign and she has a sticky draw in gate 13, but if circumstances fall her way, Quinton says she is good enough to win.
“She showed me enormous ability early on and she has had a few little issues that have made it hard for her,” he said.
“But she has got nice ability, there is no question about that.
“She hasn’t been getting beaten far with no luck. If things just went her way she could certainly be in the finish.”
A few early punters agree with Rantan backed from $26 into $9.50, while Signor Tortoni is a $5.50 chance for his assignment.
