Jodi Quinlan can add another of harness racing’s grand slam events to her resume when she partners Act Now (Somebeachsomewhere) in this Saturday night’s (Dec. 10) SENTrack Inter Dominion Pacing Championship Grand Final at Tabcorp Park Melton.
It has been almost 20 years since Quinlan claimed victory in the sport’s premier sprint race – the Miracle Mile with Lance Justice-trained Sokyola in 2004 – and she’s now set to team up with the favourite in the ID22 decider.The 48-year-old reinswoman has built a great association with the flying four-year-old from the Emma Stewart stable, partnering him in 32 of his 35 starts and for 17 of 18 career wins.
Two of those – the Victoria Derby and Breeders Crown 3YO Colts and Geldings Final – were at Group 1 level last year and another two in this year’s Inter Dominion heats.
Quinlan hopes to find the top in the early stages of Saturday night’s marathon 2760m trip and gets a good chance after the noted front-runner came up with gate three.
“I’ll be doing my best,” she told Michael Guerin at Monday night’s barrier draw function.
“He’ll be coming out of the gate as hard as he can and (we’ll) see where we end up, but it’s not the be all and end all if he doesn’t lead.”
Act Now is one of five Stewart-trained runners in the SENTrack Inter Dominion Pacing Championship Grand Final and shortened from $5 to $2.25 following Monday night’s barrier draw.
WATCH MICHAEL GUERIN’S CHAT WITH JODI QUINLAN BELOW:
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by Tim O’Connor, for HRV