Quick Tempo set for another big The Gong day showing in the Group 3 The Warra

Trainer Mark Minervini is hunting a massive feature win with his classy sprinter at Kembla Grange on Saturday.

Quick Tempo won on The Gong day two years ago. Picture: Mark Evans / Getty Images

Classy sprinter Quick Tempo has developed a knack for saving his best for The Gong day and trainer Mark Minervini is hopeful he can reproduce it again in Saturday’s Group 3 $300,000 The Warra (1000m) at Kembla Grange.

Two years ago, Quick Tempo was an impressive winner in a Benchmark 78 at the same meeting he motored home from the back to finish runner up to Insurrection in The Warra.

He is a $26 chance to go one better in The Warra this weekend with Andrew Adkins aboard.

• PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet’s team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW!

“He got back a long way last year and made up good late ground but I think he is going OK heading into this year,” Minervini said.

“I think with the 53kg, I would expect him to be competitive for sure.

“With a bit of luck in running, I am hoping he will be charging home and if that gets him in the finish or winner’s circle then even better.

“I am sure he will be competitive.”

Quick Tempo is second-up in the Warra after battling away for a midfield finish in a Benchmark 100 over 1100m at Royal Randwick on Big Dance day.

Mark Minervini knows Quick Tempo has a slick finishing burst on him. Picture: Jason McCawley / Getty Images

• Racing Confidential: Standalone days warrant big-money races

Minervini has tinkered with the gear in order to get the best out of Quick Tempo in his latest assignment.

“He has got in a bit of a habit of hanging,” Minervini said.

“He’s not sore but I think he tries to run quicker than he can if that makes sense.

“I have put a rubber crossover noseband on him and he has been good in his work so I am hoping that straightens him out a bit and that might give us another half a length or something.”

Minervini’s day will kick off with Snapback ($41) in the Evergreen Turf Benchmark 78 Handicap (1400m) in which he will use apprentice Ben Osmond’s 3kg claim.

Snapback had close to a year on the sideline but is slowly working back to his top form and Minervini expects he will appreciate stepping up in trip.

Originally published as Quick Tempo set for another big The Gong day showing in the Group 3 The Warra