Given high expectation to win following a massive run for third on his home track at the most recent Tauranga meeting, Quickasucan (3 B. G. King’s Chapel – Newlands, by Kaapstad) gave punters a scare when squeezed to the rear at the start before blowing his rivals away to win impressively.
At the Tauranga premier meeting on June 26, Quickasucan had produced an eye-catching run when making considerable ground from back in the field for third on very testing Heavy11 footing, and while others battled he again staged an enormous performance to win the UGL-Waihi Beach Memorial RSA Maiden over 1600-metres on Heavy10.
After riding him last time, Opie Bosson had suggested to local trainer Jim Pender that blinkers be applied to Quickasucan, the same ploy used by Paul Jenkins, with recent winner Just Once (Istidaad), on the advice of Bosson.
Set alight from the 800-metres, when eleventh of fifteen, Quickasucan circled with real purpose to be second on the home turn and he raced away after taking control at the 300-metres to win easing down by five-and-a-half-lengths.
He paid $3.00 & $1.40, beating Maximum Height (Jahafil), with half-a-length to the tearaway pacemaker Arnold (Kilimanjaro), third.
Clearing Maidens on a heavy track at his third start it may have been, but the manner of the victory suggests Quickasucan has a very bright future.
Pender said, “It was huge. Bigger than I thought it would ever be. He certainly looks a bit special and Opie is very impressed with him.”
Bred by the Estate of the late Mike ‘Goldie’ Rossiter and owned by his wife Glenys, Quickasucan is raced on lease by Goldie's Mates Syndicate, Tom Morgan & Jim Pender.
Pender was quick to point out the emotional aspect of the win.
“Mike (Rossiter) died two years ago, and with his wife Glenys we’ve been mates for forty-years, so this was the last horse he had for his all his mates to now race together, people from North Auckland, Otorohonga, and Hastings.”
“Given the circumstances, I would have to rate it as one of the more special races I’ve won”, Pender said. “I’ve won three Japan Trophy races at Tauranga, but the feeling was very strong today.”
Pender said Quickasucan will now contest the $32,500 Special Conditions mile at Te Rapa on July 31 before "easing up on him for a month".
“He’s been immature both physically and mentally. He’s maturing all the time to become more like a racehorse, as before he was like a big kid and it was just a bit of fun. It has been a bit difficult to work him up and keep condition on him”, Pender said.
“Once he comes to it physically he could go on to win quite a few nice races, as the rest of the family runs over a bit of ground.”
Quickasucan is a half-brother to Mr Hefner (Wallenda), 9 wins, Cork ‘N Bottle (Danske), 4 wins, and The Sadler (Montjeu), 2 wins.
Pender said Bosson would be unable to take the ride at Te Rapa as he will be on holiday.
The win was the second on the card for Windsor Park Stud stallion King's Chapel (King Of Kings), following success in race one by Classic Blonde (3 Ch. F. King's Chapel - Quality Blonde, by Star Way), ridden by Matthew Cameron for trainer Jamie Graham.