Trainer Les Ross is looking to increase his QTIS footprint at the Gold Coast on Saturday
Easy going trainer Les Ross is deadly serious when he pinpoints the reason for his success in races carrying QTIS bonus money.
Ross has a great chance of adding to his reputation in QTIS races in the $500,000 2YO The Jewel (1200m) at the Gold Coast on Saturday.
His runners Mishani Delight (barrier one) and Mishani Enchanted (barrier nine) have had mixed luck in the draw but Ross rates them both a hope of beating hot favourite Sweet Dolly.
The QTIS bonus scheme covers mainly two and three-year-old races for horses who have effectively been bred in Queensland.
Ross is well on his way to being the state’s leading QTIS two-year-old trainer for the third time this season.
He was leading trainer in 2014-15 and again last season when the majority of his runners were for owner Mick Crooks.
Crooks races under the banner of Mishani Enterprises and the majority of his horses carry the name Mishani.
Ross said his success in two and three-year-old races could be put down to Crooks’s support.
Crooks had a successful swimming pool business for many years but has put most of his energy into racing in recent years.
He has bought and bred hundreds of horses with the majority being trained by Ross.
“I have about ninety per cent of Mick’s horses and he has been a tremendous supporter. Any success I have had can be put down to him,” Ross said.
“Mick’s complex (near Beaudesert, south of Brisbane) is second to none. I’m not just saying that because I am tied up with it but it has everything you need for horses,”
“Mick deserves every bit of success he gets. Whatever he wins goes back into the horses and he is great for the industry.”
Ross would dearly love to win Saturday’s The Jewel for Crooks.
Les Ross with owners Michael and Paddy Crooks. Photo: Megan Slade.Source:News Corp Australia
“The Jewel races are really the championships for Queensland bred horses. If anyone deserves to win one it is Mick,” Ross said.
He realises Sweet Dolly will be hard to beat but points out The Jewel races have produced some upsets over the years and in particular on wet tracks.
The Gold Coast is tipped to be at best soft on Saturday and both of Ross’s runners are bred to handle wet tracks.
“Mishani Enchanted was a good last start winner but the barrier is a bit of a worry,” Ross said.
“Mishani Delight won two races earlier in her campaign and things haven’t gone her way at her most recent runs. She should improve from barrier one.”
Ross also advised punters not to sack his filly Mishani Miss in the 3YO The Jewel after her last start failure at the Sunshine Coast.
“I have put a tongue tie on her for the first time and it should make a difference,” Ross said.
“She has won a couple of good races and didn’t get beaten far in the Magic Millions Sprint this year.”
Ross has won ten 2YO races with QTIS prizemoney and a further eight 3YO events which carried the bonus this season.
“We are hoping to win $2 million in prizemoney and bonus payments this year and are already over the million with five months to go,” he said.
“A win in a Jewel race on Saturday would be the icing on a good season.”
Originally published asQTIS master trainer looking to enhance his reputation
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