Three of the best for Quinlan

That the stars aligned for Jodi Quinlan at Shepparton’s Pacing For Pink race meeting was not lost on the 19 times Group 1 winning reinswoman.

Quinlan ended the day with a 100 per cent strike rate, saluting in all three harness racing driving engagements on the 11 race program.

It was Quinlan’s first venture to the annual meeting which raises funds and promotes awareness of breast cancer.

“I was contacted by Abby Sanderson who was driving at the Coolamon Cup meeting and she asked if I would drive Sunset Stride which is trained by her father Shane,” Quinlan said.

“It was my first time driving at the meeting and Marg Watson along with the Shepparton club do an amazing job raising money for breast cancer,” she said.

Quinlan knows only too well the ramification of the insidious disease.

“My grandmother (Nell) had breast cancer and my mother (Cheryl) was diagnosed with ovarian cancer about 11 years ago and was given only two years to live, thankfully she is still with us and is really good at 70,” she said.

Quinlan launched her winning treble behind the Sanderson prepared Sunset Stride (Always B Miki) in the feature race the Olive Hayes Memorial Pace.

Timing her run to perfection, Quinlan pulled out three wide at the 800 metre mark and Sunset Stride ($3.60) was able to grab the lead in the shadows of the post scoring by half a head from the Stacey Towers driven She Hunts Em.

“I think that’s two for two for Shane,” she said.

Later in the day Quinlan combined with trainer Philip Chircop to steer home back to back wins with Maxnjax and McGee.

Maxnjax ($3 fav) completed consecutive wins when he outsprinted his rivals after Quinlan set him alight with 400 metres to travel and held a two metre margin on the line over Hoorah Philtra.

Quinlan said the lightly raced son of Rock N Roll Heaven has his foibles.

“He can be a bit naughty and moody but he has high speed if driven cold,” she said.

“He has the ability to end up racing at metropolitan level.”

Quinlan conceded her previous winning treble doesn’t readily spring to mind.

“It would have been a while ago,” she said.

Meanwhile, Quinlan is content to devote her time training a team of 19 at her Bacchus Marsh stables.

“I always wanted to drive 100 winners in a season on ten occasions and I did it for 11 seasons,” she said.

“I don’t travel these days but I will to drive for people that have looked after me over the years.”

For complete race results, click here.

by John Dunne, for Harnesslink