By Mike Dillon
In one of the quickest major financial returns in racing, Singaporean owner David Ee yesterday picked up the $210,375 Magic Millions winner's cheque thanks to Quorum, the horse he bought only weeks ago.
Ee bought the Robert Priscott-trained colt to take him home after yesterday's Classic and place him in the stable of former New Zealand trainer Paddy Busuttin, with whom he already has 10 horses.
Quorum and Australian jockey Chris Munce destroyed their opposition, leading throughout to win easily from the favourite, Tristachine and Lance O'Sullivan.
Ee and Busuttin flew to Wellington from Singapore to see the race, Priscott speaking to Ee for the first time only minutes before the race.
While Munce scored without having to use his whip, he was lucky to be aboard Quorum, since Priscott's stable rider Linda Ballantyne had the choice between Quorum and stablemate Buzz Lightyear.
She chose the latter through loyalty to owner Terry Jarvis and the desire to stay with the horse, while Quorum was always going to be having his last New Zealand start.
Priscott admits he was pleasantly surprised by the win, but said he felt Quorum had not been given credit for his last-start second to impressive debut winner
Catamarca at the Auckland Cup carnival at Ellerslie.
Buzz Lightyear sat outside Quorum to the 250m, but felt the pressure and wilted to finish sixth.
Busuttin said Quorum would not race again until he was three years old.
"There are probably a dozen races for him each worth quarter of a million dollars."
Busuttin is loving the lifestyle and the racing in Singapore and said he would return to New Zealand only to retire.
Munce was impressed with Quorum.
"They told me he'd go hard for 800m and then be found wanting and that's pretty much the impression I got when I took him to the start.
"But when we got across the crossing and met up with the running rail in the home straight, I went for a feel of him to see what he had left and he felt terrific. He certainly found plenty of stamina."
Quorum's win in the $400,000 Classic, coming from an outside barrier, was too comprehensive for excuses from rival jockeys.
O'Sullivan certainly did not have one for Tristachine, who made up several lengths on the winner in the closing stages without ever looking likely to threaten.
Second favourite Superjet wilted to eighth after being handy to the 300m.
Pictured: Chris Munce brings Quorum into the birdcage after winning the Magic Millions Classic at Trentham yesterday. HERALD PICTURE / MARK MITCHELL
Horse Racing: Quorum pays early dividend
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