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By Ray Hickson

A Country Cup is yet to come apprentice Jordan Quince’s way so far but with front-running gelding Deion she feels Sunday’s $40,000 Three Rivers Machinery Narromine Cup (1600m) is within reach.

Apprentice Jordan Quince (Pic: Janian McMillan).

The 22-year-old, who hails from Port Hedland in WA, has been based with Orange trainer Alison Smith for almost a year and has struck up a good rapport with the Brett Robb-prepared galloper.

On the back of an all the way win over subsequent Highway winner Kranich, she says if Deion ($3.60 with TAB on Saturday) can take the same attitude into the Narromine Cup he could run out a strong mile.

“I’m really grateful and thankful to the owners who have kept me on and hopefully I can achieve that goal,’’ Quince said.

“I know it’s a bit further, if he can hang on like he did last time he should run well.

“When I spoke to Brett Robb about him he reckons he can run the distance. He is a very big horse so he should be able to motor along in the wet.”

The bulk of Deion’s starts have been below 1400m, with his last start win only his second attempt at the trip so the mile is new territory for the six-year-old.

Quince said the best way to ride the horse is to allow him to roll along, and feels that would help him handle potentially a heavy track, so that’s what she’ll be trying to do in the Narromine Cup.

“He always likes to be in front, he’s a natural leader, and if he can lead we shouldn’t have a problem,’’ she said.

“It’s just how he is. When I rode him at Forbes I tried to sit off the leader and he doesn’t travel as comfortably so if he can get left alone he should be able to run it.

“Everyone says the first half of the race is the most important part so if we can get that right we should be able to finish off.”

Her two other rides are for Alison Smith and Quince said she took a roundabout way out to Orange and, aside from the very different climate, is enjoying having some continuity as her apprenticeship gains momentum.

She did ride a winner at her very first race ride, at Queanbeyan in June 2023 and has worked with the likes of Stephen Jones, Richard & Will Freedman and Glen Milligan prior to heading to the Central Districts.

“I’m from Port Hedland so I’m used to the heat, the iron ore and dust, and coming here to the snow kind of freaked me out a bit,’’ she said.

“I originally moved over at 18 and started out at Scone, I’ve moved around a bit and Corey Brown set me up with Alison last year.”

Four-year-old mare Elderberry Wine will have just her second race start in the Qube Agri Handicap (800m) and Quince said she’s coming along well in her trackwork this preparation.

She ran fifth on debut at Orange at the end of December and the jockey is expecting a forward showing.

“She’s a green horse, she’s got quite a bit of ability and I think she should run a big race,’’ she said.

Evergreen sprinter Castlebar Road will carry 63kg after Quince’s claim in the Narromine USMC Handicap (800m) and while the field will only be a maximum of ten she’s hoping for a bit of luck from a wide barrier.

Deion wins at Dubbo on August 10

She’s been placed twice in four rides on the nine-year-old who she says will be in his comfort zone over the short course.

“His benchmark rating is so high but he loves a short distance and a heavy track. They’re his races,’’ she said.

“He has got speed, when I saw the gate I wasn’t too happy but nobody is happy with a bad gate. He has a big weight but it’s only 800m and I think he will hang on strongly.”

All the fields, form and replays for Sunday’s Narromine meeting