3 minute read
A syndicate from Queensland is hoping Uncle Phil will see out the 2500m distance in one of country racing’s longest races at Taree.
The impeccably bred Uncle Phil, a son of Redoute’s Choice, cost $260,000 as a yearling but when he failed to live up to that price tag was put on the market and bought as a tried horse for $10,000 by a syndicate from South East Queensland.
They sent to horse to Marc Quinn at Port Macquarie and in two starts for him Uncle Phil has finished third over 1812 metres at Port Macquarie then won over 2000 metres at Taree two weeks ago.
“He is a BOBS Extra horse so the owners got their purchase price back with interest with that win at Taree,” Quinn said.
“The rest will be the icing on the cake.
“And because he is a BOBS Extra horse for life and these longer races are his forte I hope they are going to be picking up a lot more of these cheques.
“After the horse won at Taree I looked around for another race and this was the obvious choice.
“Having to carry top weight and concede quite a bit of weight to the other horses is a bit of a concern but I think a lot of those runner are going to be gasping for air at the 400 metres.
“My horse is fit and he has done a lot of swimming and a lot of walking in the river so I know he will run the trip out.
“He is not a kids horse so there was no point in putting an apprentice on him.”
Longer term Quinn is planning to head to Brisbane with Uncle Phil for a middle distance race.
“They run them regularly up there and the owners would love to have their horse racing in their area and take all their family and friends to see him race,” Quinn said.
“That is what ownership is all about.”
Preparing stayers is a discipline Quinn has become adept at.
He won the Port Macquarie Cup last year with Falklands and will run that horse in Friday’s Wagga Cup following his second in the cup prelude.
Tuesday's 2500m race at Taree has justified the decision by Krambach Race Club to persevere with it.
The race is gradually growing in popularity and has drawn a field of 10 with two city trainers Andre van Tonder and Steve Wilson targeting it, van Tonder with Atreyu and Wilson with She’s Cosmic.
The Jason Deamer-Robert Thompson combination looks set for a big day with Another Dream in the Newcombe Coach Lines Maiden (1400m) and Mostly Matisse in the Hygain Benchmark 55 (1600m).
Another Dream resumed with a good second on this track two weeks ago and because there are few better conditioners than Deamer the horse will be even fitter.
Mostly Matisse has been in career best form this preparation and won in this class at this track and over this distance two weeks ago.
