Ross hopeful history can be repeated in QTIS Jewel Prelude

By Glenn Davis

Trainer Les Ross proudly wears the title “King of QTIS” and he is hopeful history can be repeated at Doomben on Saturday ahead of his defence of the two-year-old QTIS Jewel crown next month.

Ross produced the quinella in last year’s two-year-old QTIS Jewel Final with Mishani Royale who beat stable mate Mishani Gangster.

The race was run at Doomben last year while the Gold Coast track underwent major renovations but has returned to the 'Glitter Strip' this year.

Mishani Royale went into last year’s QTIS Jewel Final on the back of a strong win in the QTIS Jewel Prelude and Ross is hopeful he can claim the 2YO Prelude again with one of his two starters.

Ross will be represented in the QTIS Jewel dress rehearsal by Mishani Crown and Mishani Lily.

Mishani Crown - a Michael Rodd mount – drew barrier six and is coming off a last start second to the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Whiskey over 1200 metres at Eagle Farm on February 3.

Her stable mate Mishani Lily drew gate 10 and will be ridden by James Orman in her first start since finishing sixth to the Chris Munce-trained Poster Girl over 1000 metres at the Sunshine Coast in the middle of November.

“Both are nice fillies and Mishani Lily has got more speed than most horses I train but she’s got a bad habit of stopping,” Ross said.

“I expect Lily will be in front on the home turn and Mishani Crown will be coming home strongly late.”

Ross has long contemplated retirement from training but his success, particularly with the QTIS brand, has kept him in the game with the support of Mike Crooks who made his fortune constructing swimming pools prior to building his Mishani empire.

Ross will also saddle up Mishani Hitman in the colts and geldings division of the QTIS Jewel Prelude but he concedes the gelding needs a sharp improvement if he’s to make the QTIS Jewel Final.

“He’s still a maiden and this looks hard for him but he’s a nice horse,” Ross said.

“He’ll need to do something special to get into the Final in two weeks.”

Ross also had high hopes with Mishani Royale and Mishani Gangster in the 3YO QTIS Jewel Prelude but his confidence was shattered when the pair drew barrier 20 and 21 respectively.

Mishani Royale has not reproduced her two-year-old form in five runs this campaign and is coming off a last start seventh to the Stuart Kendrick-trained Defiant Spirit at the Gold Coast on January 6.

“Mishani Royale went off the boil for a couple of runs but I’ve got her going well now and she should be improved,” Ross said.