Patience paying off for Ljungberg owners
Ron Quniton expects his Rosehill runner Ljungberg to race his way into autumn carnival contention.
A week after Ljungberg was accidentally included in the final field for the Magic Millions Guineas, the promising three-year-old will line up in the race he was earmarked for all along.
A mix-up with acceptances for last week’s $2 million race meant Ljungberg was listed as a runner at the Gold Coast despite the fact trainer Ron Quinton didn’t pay up for the horse.
“There was a glitch in the acceptances and it was messed up, not by us,” Quinton said.
“But he was never, ever going.”
Happily for Quinton, there have been no such technical issues this week and Ljungberg will chase his third win from as many starts this preparation in the Doug Carroll Handicap (1300m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
A son of top stallion I Am Invincible, Ljungberg has been a project in patience for connections.
He was put away after finishing fifth on debut in the 2017 Wyong Magic Millions won by Jonker before an interrupted winter campaign cut short after two starts.
“I had a bit of a foot problem with him, we gave him time to get over that and we’ve reaped the rewards so far,” Quinton said.
Ljungberg resumed with a narrow win at Canterbury in December then showed a turn of foot to trounce his Kensington track rivals by almost four lengths last start.
Quinton doesn’t expect a rise to Saturday grade to trouble the horse, who he hopes can figure during the Sydney autumn carnival.
“Saturday he’s up against a bit better opposition and he’s taking on four-year-olds as well but I’m sure he’s up to that,” he said.
Kerrin McEvoy replaces the suspended Hugh Bowman aboard Ljungberg who has drawn barrier nine in the field of 10.
Quinton also confirmed both Daysee Doom and Dixie Blossoms were back in work ahead of what will be their final racing campaigns before they are retired to stud.