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There was a time trainer Ron Quinton thought talented mare De An Andretti wouldn’t get the chance to live up to her potential so he has the fingers crossed for her long awaited comeback at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
It's been 20 months since the full sister to Libertini kicked off her career with an impressive win at Hawkesbury, it was impressive enough for her to start favourite in the Group 2 Furious Stakes when she reappeared five months later.
Not long after that race De An Andretti was struck down with a virus, Ron Quinton describes it as a 'superbug', and it was touch and go for a while.
"She got very, very, sick and it's been a long haul back,'' Quinton said.
"It was very serious. It was a marathon getting her back.
"My vet and my staff have done a marvellous job and the patience of Gerry (Harvey) has been great and it appears she is back on track."
The four-year-old resurfaced at the trials in June but the wet winter dissuaded Quinton from testing her out on heavy tracks and he elected to be patient.
She's had two more trials in the past month and will take her place in the Too Darn Hot Yearlings Handicap (1100m) where she's come up with the inside barrier and has been the medium of solid support, opening $9 with TAB and was $2.80 on Tuesday.
In the first hitout she finished just over half a length behind King Of Sparta then on December 13 she cruised alongside Forzanini in a 740m heat at Randwick with jockey Andrew Adkins unmoved.
"I couldn't be happier with the trials, they've been very good,'' Quinton said.
"She's run against a few nice horses and trialled well very close to them. She's had a wonderful foundation with those couple of trials. She's probably as fit as we can get her.
"It's not an easy task the race, there's a good bit of depth in it. We're hoping like hell she can come back and win but by the same token there's some quality opposition as well."
It's very much one run at a time for De An Andretti for now.
Quinton said everyone is well aware of what she would make at a broodmare sale, though you'd doubt Harvey would ever sell a sister to his ill-fated star sprinter.
Libertini won five races from 16 starts for Anthony Cummings, she was a multiple Group winner and three times Group 1 placed and she died suddenly at trackwork back in March.
"The thing about this mare is you've got no idea how valuable she is,'' he said.
"In the broodmare barn she's worth a fortune. Libertini, the full sister, is gone and it'd be good if she can come up and do a good job.
"She's beautifully bred and a magnificent animal. And she's got ability. We've got to do everything in our power to do everything right by her."
