2021 Willow Tree Cup: Marc Quinn-trained Zapluck too good at Quirindi

Piloted by Luke Rolls, Zapluck won for the third time in 26 starts when he edged the fast-finishing, Darren Egan-trained City Jet (Casey Waddell), to capture the $12,000 feature event at Saturday's six-race TAB meeting.

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The Bryan Dixon-trained Makuba (Zara Lewis) was a length away in third place.

Zapluck paid $11 (fixed odds) for the win, with the $5,850 cheque boosting his career prizemoney to more than $66,000. It was his first triumph in 15 months.

Quinn's brother-in-law, Wyong-based trainer Tracey Bartley, had previously trained Zapluck.

Bartley and Quinn's sister, Tracy Quinn, had been part-owners in the horse.

Marc Quinn said: "They deemed him not to be up to provincial level when they had him, and they sent him up to me after a couple of runs."

He added: "It's been a little bit between drinks between his last win and yesterday [Saturday].

"He's a horse that needs a lot of luck in his runs. He sort of gets back, and that can be detrimental around here, where a lot of those sort of races are won on the speed."

Quinn said he was "really happy" to break his drought at Quirindi, where he had been "a couple of times" previously.

He was "pretty confident" heading into the benchmark 50 handicap, adding: "Never had any luck there [Quirindi], and this time we had some luck in our favour."

Quinn said he and Rolls " were happy with the horse" ahead of the race.

"His work had been terrific during the week," he continued. "And we were just thrilled to win the race - that's for sure."

Quinn praised Rolls's ride, saying he does not have to give him "too many instructions, because he's a quality rider".

"He does a lot of work for me and my stable," the trainer said.

"He rides most of my trackwork, and we have a good association on race day. He rode the horse very well."

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