Touchdown for The Quarterback in Gilgai Stakes
POSITIVE trial form indicated that The Quarterback had returned from a four-month spell in fine order and its win in the Group 2 Gilgai Stakes confirmed that.
The Group 1 Newmarket Handicap winner once again proved too strong for its rivals down the Flemington straight on Sunday and it will now target back-to-back group ones later this campaign.
The Robbie Griffiths-trained gelding scored its fifth win at Flemington and it will be looking to make that six in the Darley Classic on November 5. Griffiths had planned a three-run preparation for The Quarterback and Sunday’s win delighted the Cranbourne trainer.
“The way he trialled, he’s never been fantastic in his trials, we were confident he worked as though he was going better this preparation,” Griffiths said.
“It’s a nice way to kickoff the prep to go into two more group ones. (The) Manikato then the Darley Classic. Always had a three-run program, kicking off here. We think he’ll have his peak run here in the Darley.”
The Quarterback was positioned just behind the speed set by $2.80 favourite Faatinah, but it was quickly under pressure which left jockey Matthew Allen in front a long way from home. It mattered not, however, as the six-year-old sprinted away to defeat We’ve Got This and Durendal.
“He’s a legend, I just love him,” Allen said. “He’s never gone any better. His trials have been enormous.
“They didn’t go that quick. I had so much weight in both my hands and thought there was no way they were going to beat him. Nothing else can go with him. I reckon he’s in for a massive prep.”
Griffiths echoed Allen’s thoughts that when The Quarterback gets a good trip in transit, there aren’t many horses that can match its turn-of-foot.
“I was happy when there was a small field with potentially no speed,” Griffiths said. “It gives him a chance to travel and we all know he has a tremendous turn-of-speed.”
The Group 1 Manikato Stakes is next up for The Quarterback on October 21 at Moonee Valley. Griffiths stated its dislike for the tight Moonee Valley track, but it’s now a $13 chance at Sportsbet.