News Article

Melton next stop for Saab Quality

16 / 08 / 2011 Article by: Editor
Saab Quality in action last year at Tattersall's Park
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Saab Quality keeps getting better but next weekend at Melton he faces his toughest assignment. Trainer Ian Swain intends to race him twice in three days in a $15,000 MO on Friday night and a $20,000 M0/M1 on Sunday afternoon at the rich Breeders Crown Finals meeting.

Saab Quality further enhanced his reputation as a rising star of Tasmanian harness racing with another dominant win in open class at The TOTE Racing Centre (Launceston) on Sunday night.

The four year old gelding was having his fourth run back from a 12 week spell. Saab Quality has won two of the three starts in open company and was a certainty beaten in the other after a poor beginning in a standing start, where he made a remarkable recovery to finish third.

On Sunday night, driver Todd Rattray opted to ease Saab Quality ($1.90 fav) out of the early speed battle, but his army of supporters must have been a little concerned when he settled about 50 metres behind the early leaders. From there, Saab Quality responded like a professional racehorse and, after working into the race, stormed home to win by five metres in a fast 1:58.8 for the 2200 metres, just outside the 1:57.3 track record held by Lanercost.

Swain is looking forward to the challenge he and Saab Quality face this weekend.

“I’m going to Melton to test the water. I am over the moon with his recent performances but we need to go to Melton and find out exactly how well we are going,” said Swain.

“After that, I should have a good idea of what he is capable of in the near future.”

Saab Quality is starting to enter elite company with 11 wins this season. The record holders in Tasmania with 15 wins are Karalta Bay (1988/89), Napoleon Stone (1984/85), Prospect Star (1983/84) and Prince Nijo (1986/87). Saab Quality is only the second horse since 1990/91 to reach 11 or more wins in a season. Northern Brewer won 14 twice (1996/97 and 1998/99).

Story submitted by Kevin Neilson