Jodi is the toast of Mildura

Harness racing driver Jodi Quinlan scored an emphatic victory with Phoenix Prince in the Tasco Petroleum Group Two feature and her drive was pure smarts and class.

But the confidence she displayed in comeback pacer Phoenix Prince was clearly justified.

“He’s just a super old horse. He’s probably had more injuries than me over the years and it’s a credit to trainers Emma (Stewart) and Clayton (Tonkin) that he’s even racing,” Quinlan said.

It’s been well documented that Phoenix Prince (Somebeachsomewhere-Classic Cathy (Classic Garry) spent two years away from the races.

But judging by the powerhouse performance to win the $60,000 Cup, the eight-year-old would only have to stay sound to be a force in future open-class features.

With the top four chances drawn the back row, there was boundless intrigue as to an early leader; which of the fancied runners would be first to be set alight and the other potential tactical variables.

But it was Cranbourne driver Scott Ewen (barrier 11) who pulled a rabbit out of the hat to charge the front with his old warrior Bulletproof Boy in the first half lap.

In the blink of an eye, Quinlan then made her move around the field on Phoenix Prince, with stablemate Our Millionaire (Mark Pitt) in tow.

There are no doubts it was a winning move as Phoenix Prince relished the role of pacesetter and carving out quick quarters before careering away to win by 12 metres from Our Millionaire with Bulletproof Boy a further five metres back in third spot. The only other runner in the market Boots Electric (Nathan Jack) ran an eye-catching fourth after getting early interference and making up a huge amount of ground.

Quinlan and the well-named Phoenix Prince make a good pair.  Phoenix Prince returned to the track in January, after a two-year injury layoff, and Quinlan spent eight months on the sidelines in 2019 when she was kicked in the side by a horse that took fright, suffering a lacerated kidney and three fractures to her spine, as well as other minor injuries.

But Quinlan said Phoenix Prince, a strong winner in his heat on Tuesday, deserved his victory in the final.

“When he’s right, he’s just got everything. He can be tough, has speed out of the gate and can sprint up. Some of his other runs in cups have been terrific,” she said.

“I was lucky enough to win the Cranbourne Cup on the horse after I’d come back from my injuries. Emma and Clayton gave me the chance and I’m rapt in their support.

“Clayton rang me at the start of the Mildura carnival to see if I would make the five-and-a-half hour drive for the heats. I said I was prepared to do that providing I also got the drive in the final.

“In the end I was able to give the heats a miss, but prior to that Clayton told me he was my drive in the final. It was awesome being part of the Mildura carnival as it’s certainly a special one. They are really few and far between.”

Phoenix Prince recorded a time of 1.56-7 which took .04 of a second off the previous track record held by Im The Boss.

“He’s a special horse and they’ve always stipulated that I look after him as much as I can in his races,” Quinlan said.

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink