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By Ray Hickson

Twice has Time Quest locked away Big Dance eligibility via the Coffs Harbour Cup and twice has jockey Ashley Morgan had to turn down the ride in that country cup.

Jockey Ashley Morgan (Pic: Bradley Photos).

Last year he was already booked to partner Charterhouse for Ciaron Maher and ran second, while back in August he’d been locked in to ride It’s A Knockout.

Both horses ran second and Time Quest won both times.

Morgan has learned his lesson and, while he's yet to win on him with two thirds from four rides, likes how the Matthew Smith-trained gelding is shaping up for his second shot at the $3 million Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick on Tuesday.

“I think he’s going well, probably as good as he’s gone for a good while now if not the best he’s ever gone,’’ Morgan said.

“He gives himself a chance down in the weights. Obviously Gringotts and Headley Grange are hard to beat but they’re carrying plenty of weight and we’re down on the minimum.”

Time Quest, $23 with TAB on Sunday, ran third over the Randwick mile on Epsom Day in a race that produced some handy form with the two ahead of him subsequently running one-two in a Group 3 and going on to tackle major races last weekend.

Morgan said how the seven-year-old handled a strongly run race is encouraging going into another stern contest.

“His run the last day was good, obviously Perfumist and Idle Flyer came out and franked the form again,’’ he said.

“A strong tempo really suits him, the quicker they go the better. He put himself in a good spot the other day from a low draw and was still able to be strong late.”

If the Group 1 winning hoop happened to snare the Big Dance, he’d consider the 'Dance treble' on the table as he partners So You Pence in the $250,000 Barn Dance (1300m) and Hollywood Hero in the $750,000 Little Dance (1600m).

So You Pence ran fifth in The Kosciuszko in what was the Matt Dale-trained mare’s biggest test and Morgan said not only was her effort pleasing she’ll be a better horse with the extra 100m.

He said it shouldn’t be forgotten that the mare wasn’t far behind the three backing up from The Kosciuszko who finished ahead of her - Gallant Star, Chidiac and Lisztomania.

“They ran me off my feet early, I had to let her slide back a few spots to get her to travel,’’ he said.

“I thought she was the strongest horse late on the line.

“When I won on her at Wagga I thought she could measure up to a Kosciuszko but she didn’t have the form lines to mark her up against the other horses.

“There wasn’t a lot between the lot of them, the gate’s going to help us and going up in distance helps us.”

A strong first-up performance by Hollywood Hero has Morgan quietly confident the Little Dance is within the Bjorn Baker-trained galloper’s reach.

His form shows he’s rarely in the finish when fresh from a break but he ran sixth behind Kerguelen on Everest Day, beaten two lengths, and Morgan said the barrier draw is an asset to him this time around.

“He finished off last prep flying and I felt his first-up run was great,’’ he said.

“He’s never at his best first-up, he always improves with a run. The key with him was drawing some type of a gate because he’s a horse you can’t do anything on early.

Time Quest runs third at Randwick on October 4

“When you draw a bad barrier you get a long way out of your ground but being bang there in the middle he can be midfield without doing any work.

Hollywood Hero won over the Randwick mile second-up back in May.

“He has a lot of ability, his racing pattern means you’re going to need a bit of luck but I don’t think he can be going better,’’ Morgan said.

All the fields, form and replays for Tuesday's Big Dance meeting at Randwick