The Quarterback had dipped his toe in Group 1 company just three times over his 13-race career prior to Saturday, finishing off the board on each occasion, but the blinkered chestnut put those performances firmly behind him Saturday with a last-to-first victory in the prestigious G1 Newmarket H. Squeezed back slightly at the break, The Quarterback dropped back to last of the stands' side group–just off the heels of champion sprinter Chautauqua–up the Flemington straight. Coming under a ride by jockey Craig Newitt approaching the 400 metre mark, The Quarterback tackled Chautauqua inside the final 100 metres and got his head in front of the late leader Black Heart Bart on the line. It was the first Group 1 winner for Cranbourne-based trainer Robbie Griffiths, who told Breednet.com.au, “I said to Craig, legging him on that, 'I reckon he can do it'. The instructions were very simple: follow the grey horse [Chautauqua] and if you get past him, you'll win. The question was whether he could get past the grey horse.”
“He's had a fantastic preparation leading into this and his work Tuesday morning was first-class,” Griffiths added. “Craig rode him terrifically and he's a great Flemington horse. It's just fantastic to see it happen.”
The Quarterback had tested the country's top sprinters in last year's G1 Lightning S. in February, but was put away for the remainder of the autumn after finishing last of six. The gelding took a few starts to wind up for his 5-year-old campaign in the spring, and won the Listed Dilmah Early Grey S. over 1000 metres of this course during the Melbourne Cup carnival Nov. 5. He kicked off his autumn campaign with a third-place finish, beaten a length, over the same course and distance Jan. 30, and was beaten just two lengths when sixth of 17 in Caulfield's G1 Oakleigh Plate two weeks ago.
Newitt was quick to praise Griffiths after Saturday's win, saying, “If ever there was a bloke who deserved a Group 1, it is Robbie Griffiths. I couldn't be happier.”
The Quarterback was bred by Rick Jamieson's Gilgai Farm, best known globally as the breeder of 2011 Newmarket H. winner and unbeaten world champion Black Caviar (Aus) (Bel Esprit {Aus}). He is the first Group 1 winner Down Under–and third overall–for the Darley shuttler Street Boss, the son of the late great Street Cry (Ire) who stands the Southern Hemisphere season at Darley's Northwood Park in Victoria for A$11,000. The Quarterback's dam is also responsible for the dual Group 2 winner and G1 Australian Derby runner-up Philippi (Aus) (Host {Chi}). She produced a colt by I Am Invincible (Aus) in 2015.
Saturday, Flemington, Australia
NEWMARKET H.-G1, A$1,255,000, VRC, 3-12, Open Handicap, 1200mT, 1:09.23, Good.
1–&@THE QUARTERBACK, 52.0, g, 5, by Street Boss (USA)
1st Dam: Soorena, by Encosta de Lago
2nd Dam: Suraya, by Brief Truce (USA)
3rd Dam: Dawn Arrival, by Century (AUS)
(A$120,000 Ylg 2012 WI Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale) O-C
W Pearce, Miller Thoroughbreds Pty Ltd (Mgr: A S E Miller), R
D Griffiths, D M Lester, P E Miall, Dr J A Schuijers, A M
Lamshed & Lucky Lammy Syndicate (Mgr: A Lamshed); B-Gilgai
Farm VIC; T-R D Griffiths; J-C Newitt; A$755,000. Lifetime
Record: 24-8-2-5, A$1,288,250. *1/2 to The Rude Warrior
(Aus) (Kempinsky {Aus}), SP-Sin, $258,994; and Philippi (Aus)
(Host {Chi}), MGSW & G1SP-Aus, $1,122,556. Werk Nick
Rating: C. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Black Heart Bart, 53.5, g, 5, Blackfriars–Sister Theresa, by At
Talaq (USA). O-K B Renner, C R Delacy, A Psaltis, I McCarthy &
Mrs D A Richardson; B-Durham Lodge Thoroughbred Stud WA;
T-D K Weir; J-Damian Lane; A$225,000.
3–Chautauqua, 58.0, g, 5, Encosta de Lago (Aus)–Lovely Jubly,
by Lion Hunter. O-R & C Legh Racing (Mgrs: R & Mrs C Legh), G
P I Racing (Mgr: G Ingham), Gurners Bloodstock (Mgr: M A
Ramsden), G Pulitano, S W Kay, Ms M A Keating, Wright Racing
(Mgrs: P & R Wrigh; B-Woodbury Pty Ltd NSW; T-M, W & J
Hawkes; J-D Dunn; A$112,500.
Margins: 0.2 len, 1.0 len, 1.1 len. Odds: 20.00, 15.00, 1.45.
Also Ran: Churchill Dancer, Japonisme, Charmed Harmony, Secret Agenda, Keen Array, Delectation.
Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO.
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