Quinn seeks better Newz next time

Jul 14 2008 by Chris Wright, Liverpool Daily Post

MICK QUINN is already planning a quick return to action with speedy mare Angus Newz, following her luckless defeat in the toteswinger City Wall Stakes at a packed Chester on Saturday.

The Liverpool-born trainer was “gutted” after his dream of winning the Listed sprint at his favourite track was dashed as his five-year-old stable star could only claim third behind winner Green Manalishi (9-2) and 11-4 favourite Borderlescott.

Having failed to land a third win a row Angus Newz could be turned out again this weekend at Newmarket, close to the trainer’s yard. Having won 11 times on 11 different tracks in her 47 career starts and currently in great form, Quinn will keep her busy until the end of the campaign with several targets including the Flower Of Scotland Stakes at Hamilton – a race she won two years ago.

Then he will sit down with the owners with the view to retiring her to stud.

On Saturday Angus Newz – owned by four Liverpool publicans – was well backed into 7-2 no doubt by the many Scousers among the 30,900 crowd– the highest on the Roodee this summer. But despite having the plum draw in one, she was outpaced at the start and then suffered interference on two occasions before flying home down the inside late on. But she was still a length behind the front two at the line.

Quinn said: “I am gutted. It is a race I’ve always wanted to win and everything went wrong.

“It surprised everyone that she couldn’t lay up. But to be fair to her they went that quick that in the end they have come back to her.

“She got bumped turning for home and bumped again. But she still put her head down.

“She is so tough. She is in the form of her life at present. We have only been beaten less than a length.

“Again the ground just dried out for a her a little bit but she has run a stormer. She put her heart and soul into it. It was just a shame she wasn’t an each-way price for people who backed her.”

He added: “There is a fillies race next week and a conditions race at Newmarket. After that we will try and get more black type. I don’t know what the lads are going to do at the end of the year. I will be gutted when she does retire or go to stud.

“This could be the last year. She could go one more year, but she is five going on six now. You don’t want to get them too old as mares. You want a young mare. But she is a star.

“I would miss (Glorious) Goodwood as there is nothing there for her, there is also a Listed race back here (Chester) over six furlongs. There are plenty of races for her. She will go to Hamilton again for the Flower Of Scotland Stakes, which she won two years ago if the ground is soft.”

Meanwhile, boxer Ricky Hatton was made to feel like a champion at Haydock yesterday as he presented the trophy for a race named in his honour.

Hatton lost his unbeaten record to Floyd Mayweather in Las Vegas but the Mancunian was giving a great reception at the Merseyside track on a day out before he gets back in the gym ahead of his fight against Paul Malignaggi in November.

The ‘Hitman’ presented the trophy for the Ricky Hatton Handicap to Nick Hughes, owner of the Ed McMahon-trained Supermassive Muse, ridden by Stephen Donohoe.

TODAY’S NAP: Ingleby Princess (3.40pm Ayr)