The Quarterback Scores Newmarket 'Cap Upset

The Quarterback, an Australian-bred son of Darley's Central Kentucky-based shuttler Street Boss  , came from last and won the Aus$1.25 million Lexus Newmarket Handicap (Aus-I) March 12 at Flemington.

 

Ridden by Craig Newitt, The Quarterback got a clear run up the rail about 300 meters out and finished strongly to best Black Heart Bart by a head. 

 

In covering 1,200 meters (about six furlongs) in 1:09.23 on turf rated as good, The Quarterback tallied his third stakes win and first at the top level, while providing trainer Robbie Griffiths with his first group I victory.

 

"Of all horses to do it for the stable, it's just sensational" said Griffiths, who with Peter Ford bought the 5-year-old gelding for Aus$120,000 ($128,340) at the 2012 Inglis premier yearling sale. Makybe Stud consigned The Quarterback.

 

"Peter Ford bought the horse with me. I'd just got out of hospital when we bought him as a yearling," said Griffiths, who added that another friend, Rick Jamieson of Gilgai Farm was responsible for breeding The Quarterback. 

 

Jamieson also is the breeder of legendary racemare Black Caviar, who won the 2011 Newmarket Handicap. On Jamieson's behalf Ford bought the dam of the three-time Australian Horse of the Year, Helsinge, as an unraced 3-year-old at the 2005 Inglis broodmare sale.

 

The Quarterback, who has an 8-2-5 record from 24 career starts, is the third grade I or group I winner for Street Boss. He is out of the winning Encosta de Lago mare Soorena, a Jamieson-bred who also the dam of group winner Philippi (Host), runner-up in the 2013 Australian Derby (Aus-I).

 

The Quarterback, who won a stakes last November at Flemington, received 14 pounds from third-place finisher and multiple group I winner Chautauqua, who finished just three-quarters of a length back, after taking the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes (Aus-I) Feb. 20.

 

 

Also on Saturday's card at Flemington, trainer Chris Waller sent out Preferment (Zabeel) to a third group I victory in the Aus$1.5 million Australian Cup (Aus-I). 

 

 

At Rosehill Gardens, Peeping (Redoute's Choice) took the Aus$600,000 Coolmore Classic (Aus-I) to score her first top-tier win for trainer Ron Quinton.