HALL OF FAMER CHASING A HAWKESBURY CELEBRATION

MONDAY: April 26, 2021: HALL Of Famer Ron Quinton won the Hawkesbury Gold Cup more than three decades ago during a stellar riding career.

Now he is looking to repeat the feat for the first time as a trainer at Hawkesbury Race Club’s stand alone meeting on Saturday.

The eight-times premier Sydney jockey today confirmed plans to back up last Saturday’s Royal Randwick placegetter Royal Celebration in the $200,000 Group 3 Evergreen Turf Hawkesbury Gold Cup (1600m), with one of his former apprentices, Sam Clipperton, back in the saddle.

Another former Quinton apprentice Andrew Adkins rode the five-year-old in his excellent third to Rocha Clock in the Benchmark 100 Handicap (1400m) at Randwick.

“I thought the horse did a terrific job, especially considering he gave the winner 3.5kg and runner-up Nudge 4.5kg,” Quinton said this afternoon.

“That was only his second run since the Villiers Stakes at Randwick last December, and he did some work and over-raced a bit from an awkward draw.

“Andrew is now serving a suspension (incurred from Randwick a week earlier), and Sam takes over.

“They are the only two jockeys to have won on Royal Celebration. Andrew has won three times on him, and Sam twice.”

Clipperton was aboard when Royal Celebration also contested last year’s Hawkesbury Gold Cup (run over 1500m at Rosehill Gardens because of the COVID-19 pandemic), and finished fifth to Amangiri, beaten less than a length after starting from the outside barrier in a field of 14.

Apart from his 1985 Hawkesbury Gold Cup victory on Peaceful Joe for local trainer Garry White, Quinton enjoyed great success at the provincial track during a wonderful partnership with former Randwick trainer Neville Begg.

He won the 1984 Hawkesbury Guineas on Gold Zama, three Rowley Miles (Holborn Court in 1983, Northern Reward in 1984 and For Papa in 1986) and the 1986 Princess Stakes on Vain Princess; all for Begg.

Royal Celebration began his 21-start career at Hawkesbury at a midweek meeting, finishing second to Invictus Salute in a 2YO Maiden Handicap (1100m) on April 17, 2018, but hasn’t raced there since.

TAB.com.au today listed Royal Celebration and last year’s Villiers winner Greysful Glamour as $4.50 joint favorites for the Cup, for which nominations have been extended until 11am tomorrow.

Entries have also been extended until the same time for the St Johns Park Clarendon Stakes (1400m) for two-year-olds.

Impressive first-up Randwick winner Ellsberg is a dominant $2.50 favorite for the $200,000 Group 3 Blacktown Workers Club Group Hawkesbury Guineas (1400m).

Ellsberg’s trainer Gerald Ryan won the 2016 Guineas with the colt’s now deceased sire Spill The Beans.

Joint second favorite Private Eye ($7) and third favorite Rainbow Connection ($8) have also been entered for the $350,000 Queensland Guineas (1600m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Hawkesbury CEO Ken Rutherford is eagerly looking forward to hosting his first stand alone meeting, after having to hand over last year’s fixture to Rosehill because of the COVID crisis.

“The weather forecast is good, and the track is in great order,” Rutherford said today.

“The quality is there in the 166 overall entries, so you have to be happy. I’m sure it will be another outstanding meeting.”

Classy Newcastle sprinter Special Reward, who won last year’s Group 3 Newcastle Newmarket, is topweight with 60kg for the Listed Hawkesbury XXXX Gold Rush (1100m), whilst 23 entries have been received for the $175,000 Killahy Equine Hawkesbury Crown (1300m).