Some of the programming of a couple of Australia's best race mares in recent seasons hails from a lesson learned from a late Hall of Fame trainer back in 1987.
Randwick-based Ron Quinton, also an Australian racing Hall of Fame inductee for his deeds in the saddle, has tasted plenty of success in recent seasons with the likes of Group I winner Peeping, and top class stakes performers Dixie Blossom and Daysee Doom, both of which will race at Randwick on Saturday.
It was a Canterbury meeting on March 21 in 1987 that Quinton remembers when he was given a lesson that he is now using in his training methods more than 30 years later and will adopt on Saturday when Dixie Blossom carries 58.5kg in the Group III Toy Show Quality (1300m).
"She gets plenty of weight but I've always remembered what Colin Hayes said to me when I was riding Special," Quinton said. "He believed the fillies and mares we're better off carrying the big weights against their own sex.
"One day he had Special in a fillies and mares race with topweight and an open flying handicap on the limit.
"He asked me what do I reckon she should run in and I said 'she's got no weight in the flying' but he said 'no, no we'll run her against the mares. She'll beat them with the big weight' which she did and it's something I've never forgotten.
"He went alright at this training caper so it's something I've followed."
Special won the Birthday Card Stakes that day with 60kg.
Quinton has adopted a different approach with Daysee Doom on Saturday but he was forced into that decision because the mare came back into work two weeks after Dixie Blossom.
Daysee Doom runs in the Group III Show County Quality (1200m).
"She was back in work two weeks after the other mare that's why I'm sticking to the 1200m race," he said.
"Andrew (Adkins) thinks she's come back better again this preparation. It's a good positive thing if he's any judge."
Quinton said what you see is what you get with both Dixie Blossom and Daysee Doom and "they both appear they've come back really well".
"I expect them both to run really well," he said.
"They're such tough competitors, they never lays down and will both run well.
