A decision to concentrate on the feature mile races has paid dividends for connections of Mr Quickie, who has taken out the prestigious Group One Toorak Handicap.
Although Mr Quickie won the 2019 Queensland Derby, his owners decided that, rather than concentrate on the Caulfield Cup which he ran in last spring, he was better suited over 1600 metres and being kept fresh.
Trainer Phillip Stokes said the credit for going down that path should go to his managing owner, Wylie Dalziel.
“We bounced a lot of ideas off each other, including (part owner) Peter Moody, and we thought this was the best way to go and he’s found his best form,” Stokes said.
Stokes said Jamie Kah gave Mr Quickie a peach of a ride and put him in a great position.
“He hasn’t jumped that clean for that long and it was really nice to watch,” Stokes said.
The trainer will now wait for another feature mile race in Melbourne, the Cantala Stakes at Flemington on October 31, for his next start.
It was Kah’s first ride on Mr Quickie and she said the fact he jumped away well from the barriers made all the difference.
The victory was Kah’s third Group One overall and her first this spring.
“He’s such a talented horse on his day and they’ve found the trick to him fresh and I’d like to stick with him now,” Kah said.
Kah has picked up her first Melbourne Cup ride on the English stayer Prince Of Arran.
Mr Quickie ($21) defeated frontrunner Buffalo River ($4.80) by two lengths with Superstorm ($8) a half length away third.
Mike Moroney’s stayer Chapada earned a start in the Caulfield Cup with his victory in the Herbert Power Stakes a race later.