Crafty Irna could be Ron Quinton's flagship horse over the spring carnival

Ron Quinton certainly knew how to win when he was a jockey and in the eyes of many that success is starting to roll over into his training as well.

Quinton is becoming a more and more regular feature on the metropolitan cards and he continues to give sight in black type events as well.

That continues this weekend at Rosehill where he’ll be represented in the Premier’s Cup by not just one but two chances.

His biggest player is certainly Crafty Irna, a filly that could well become his flagship horse over the spring carnival.

She has already had one run for the new season and although she didn’t win she worked well late, but Quinton isn’t reading as much into that performance as some are.

“She ran pretty good, I don’t know if she went as well as everyone thought she did though,” he said.

“They went very fast for a 1400m, they run her off her legs a little bit, Corey said she got very uncomfortable where the track was pretty cut up.”

This weekend she steps in distance and takes on the 1800m of the Premier’s Cup, something Quinton thinks she’s ready to handle.

“She won the Adrian Knox back in the autumn, she appears as though she’s a staying type filly,” he said.

“She could run very well, she’s drawn nicely (barrier 5) and she should have a nice run in the race.”

Quinton also isn’t concerned about jumping up in journey so early in her campaign, although eh does acknowledge things could be better.

“She’s had a three week break from the first to the second, it might have been nice to have one more run into her,” he said.

“She’s a staying bred filly, she recovers well after her work all the time.

“It’s only another 400m and she was finishing off very strong a couple of weeks ago…I’m very confident she’ll run nicely.”

His other player in the race is Storm Kite, an older horse with not quite as many raps but one he loves to have in his stable.

“She’s a wonderful old consistent mare, she’s so honest and so consistent,” he said.

“She’s run a string of seconds in her last two preps, we gave her one go at 1800m last prep but that was at the end of her pep.

“As she’s getting old she appears as though she’s that little bit more doer.

“There’s got to be some hint there that she can run the distance.”

Storm kite will need to have a bit more luck in running than Crafty Irna to be a player though, she’s drawn out wide in gate 14.

That being said one thing Quinton isn’t concerned about is getting a good ride for either of his chances.

Corey Brown will maintain the mount of Crafty Irna with Kathy O’Hara to take up Storm Kite.

“Both mares are going into the race very well…I’ve got two very good riders for my horses,” he said.