Quinn performs on his terms in Mighty win

A relaxed approach pays dividends for Todd Banks with a renowned trackwork slouch at Clifford Park.

Mighty Quinn ridden by Les Tilley wins at Clifford Park. Photo: Nev Madsen

RACING: Mighty Quinn mightn’t set the world on fire of a morning, but he gets the job done for Todd Banks when it counts.

The ex-Victorian celebrated his second career victory at Clifford Park on Saturday night, almost two years to the day after breaking his maiden at Geelong.

Trainer Banks said the gelding continues to amaze him, taking it easy in the lead-up and producing on race day.

“He’s hard to get a gauge of. The more work you give him, the slower he gets,” Banks said.

“He’s terrible trackworker. You could run him down in your gumboots.

“When I first bought him, I thought they sold us a dud, but on race day he seems to be a different horse.

“He’s no superstar, but he puts in at every run which is all you can ask.”

Mighty Quinn ($3.80 fav) was well found by punters in the Welcome Back To Clifford Park Ratings Band 0-55 Handicap (1640m), with a well-timed ride from Les ‘Bubba’ Tilley getting the gelding over the line.

The five-year-old sat just behind the speed, and despite being forced to change path behind a wayward Stryking Emerald ($8.50), came up along the inside to score by a head.

Despite being tested over as far as 12 furlongs in Victoria, Banks believes his best is around the mile.

“He’s had long staying form but he just seemed tired when he first got here,” he said.

“I tried to put some fresh legs into him and his last few starts the races haven’t been run to suit him.

“On Saturday night, Bubba Tilley rode him a treat. That’s how we wanted him ridden, and Bubba really clicked with him. He dug deep and won pretty well.

“I think his best is over 1600-2000m.”

Punters had a tough time of it at times throughout the eight-race card, with Heavenly Archer ($31) and Dreamalina ($21) both scoring at big odds.

Former Toowoomba trainer Tony Gollan closed out the program in style, with War’s End ($3.10) demolishing rivals by 4 ½ lengths, and Youngblood ($2.30 fav) scoring by 2 ¼ lengths to end the night on a high.

# TONY and Maddysen Sears had a day to remember across southeast Queensland, with four winners at three different venues.

It started at Ipswich in the opening two events on the card, with Bangers And Mayo proving far too strong in the QTIS Two-Years-Old Handicap (1666m), bolting in by 3 ¼ lengths.

They made it a race-to-race double with Barefoot showing his rivals a clean pair of heels to score in the Benchmark 85 Handicap (1666m).

Sertin gave them three for the day at the Gold Coast, edging out Remember Mary (Brian Azel) in the Benchmark 68 Handicap (900m), before Eleuthera scored at Clifford Park.

Fighting Teo returned to the winner’s circle at Ipswich, proving too strong in the Open Handicap (2150m), getting in by a half length from Romakash (Matt Kropp).

CLIFFORD PARK

Track: Soft 5

Rail: +4m entire

1. RATINGS BAND 0-55 HANDICAP, 1640m: 3.80 fav MIGHTY QUINN (b g 5y Redwood (GB)-Kiss It Better. Trainer: Todd Banks) 58 (Les Tilley) 1, 8.50 STRYKING EMERALD 59 (Rebecca Goldsbury) 2, 4.60 RED MONKEY 57 (Nozi Tomizawa) 3. Then followed: 12.00 Get Outa Utah, 6.50 Princely Sum, 11.00 Complete Trust, 9.00 Lucky Machu, 9.00 Monte Santo, 21.00 Zollikon Miss last. Scr: Gratsie, Walkinshaw. Hd, 1 ¼ len. Time: 1:42.98 (Last 600m 37.89).

2. CLASS 2 HANDICAP, 1210m: 31.00 HEAVENLY ARCHER (b g 5y Golden Archer-Heavenly Belle. Trainer: Bruce Brown) 55 (Adam Sewell) 1, 7.50 CHICAGO O’BRIEN 59 (Rebecca Goldsbury) 2, 4.00 TOUGH TIMES 56.3 carr 53.3 (Kyle Wilson-Taylor) 3. Then followed: 2.60 fav Hautclere, 13.00 King Dinisty, 61.00 Luvyoulongtime, 19.00 Tequila Boom, 21.00 Bel Beau, 14.00 Wearetenfortyeight, 8.50 Kota Flyer, 26.00 Phoenix Flyer last. Scr: Blackmailer, Ironborn, Miss Makepeace, Swan Island, Wait A Minute, Oakfield Geronimo. ½ len, ½ len. Time: 1:14.73 (Last 600m 37.11).

3. BENCHMARK 60 HANDICAP, 1000m: 21.00 DREAMALINA (ch m 6y Dream Ahead (USA)-Al Hanoof. Trainer: Des Trindall) 58 (Vishan Venkaya) 1, 1.80 fav KIRRA LASS 56.5 carr 53.5 (Kyle Wilson-Taylor) 2, 14.00 SAVSGOLD 60 (Les Tilley) 3. Then followed: 16.00 Juxtaposed, 11.00 The Bumblebee, 3.60 Exceed Rock, 13.00 Essaka, 41.00 Strive To Succeed last. Scr: Bel Beau, Easy Come, Rogue Drummer. Hd, ¾ len. Time: 1:00.97 (Last 600m 36.42).

4. QTIS 2YO HANDICAP, 1300m: 5.00 ELEUTHERA (br f 2y Red Dazzler-Rosendahl. Trainer: Tony and Maddysen Sears) 56.5 carr 54.5 (Alex Patis) 1, 5.00 MT MORT SHARK 59 (Les Tilley) 2, 13.00 WILD 55.5 (Rebecca Goldsbury) 3. Then followed: 4.20 Terrajohna, 3.50 fav Ready To Chase, 11.00 Ryano, 26.00 Miss Beat, 21.00 Comet’s Arch, 41.00 Dream Candy last. Scr: Wally’s Dream. Len, ½ len. Time: 1:21.55 (Last 600m 38.59).

5. BENCHMARK 75 HANDICAP, 1640m: 9.00 HELLAVA BABE (b or br m 6y Helenus-Cherubim. Trainer: Brenton Andrew) 56 (Billie-Rose Andrew) 1, 10.00 ELJETEM 57.5 (Les Tilley) 2, 6.00 WILLIAM 55 (Adam Sewell) 3. Then followed: 3.40 fav Kuttamurra Al, 12.00 Rosendahl Red, 4.40 Murless, 5.00 Ticino Belle last. Scr: Balmaceda. 1 ¾ len, lg nk. Time: 1:43.22 (Last 600m 36.90).

6. MAIDEN PLATE, 1000m: 6.00 BIG JAKE (b g 3y Bel Esprit-Clarion Lass. Trainer: Kenneth Perrin) 58 (Adam Sewell) 1, 4.60 MOSSFAIR 56 carr 54 (Alex Patis) 2, 7.00 SNAP THE LUCK 56.5 (Brooke Ainsworth) 3. Then followed: 51.00 Just Rafferty, 10.00 Issaquah, 6.50 Knucklebox, 3.50 fav Fide Et Amore, 41.00 Seizethemoment, 13.00 And Over Again, 151.00 Kicks Both Feet, 91.00 Ma Dushka last. Scr: Sir Edmund, Beaueta, Prickly Tick. ¾ len, hd. Time: 1:01.43 (Last 600m 36.38).

7. MAIDEN PLATE, 1875m: 3.10 WAR’S END (ch g 3y Lucas Cranach (GER)-Swish Wish. Trainer: Tony Gollan) 58 (Baylee Nothdurft) 1, 15.00 ETHEREUM 58.5 (Chris Taylor) 2, 15.00 WIND RIVER 56.5 (Rikki Palmer) 3. Then followed: 12.00 Leicable, 19.00 Riverky, 18.00 A Glass Of Bubbles, 2.40 fav Cesca, 8.00 Burn The Boats, 101.00 Dydee’s Girl last. All started. 4 ½ len, lg nk. Time: 2:00.45 (Last 600m 38.86).

8. BENHCMARK 58 HANDICAP, 2175m: 2.30 fav YOUNGBLOOD (b or br g 3y Sacred Falls (NZ)-Port Providence (GB). Trainer: Tony Gollan) 61.5 carr 59.5 (Alex Patis) 1, 7.00 LUVYOUANYTIME 60.5 carr 57.5 (Minonette Kennedy) 2, 6.50 IT’S THYME 62.5 carr 59.5 (Wendy Peel) 3. Then followed: 21.00 Brumby Jack, 11.00 Scilago, 8.50 Mr Misunderstood, 9.00 Frascati Miss, 11.00 Red Poet last. All started. 2 ¼ len, hd. Time: 2:18.97 (Last 600m 38.11).

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