The Quarterback pulled up sore following his unplaced effort in Saturday’s Group 1 Darley Classic, and trainer Robbie Griffiths will face something of a task in having the talented gelding ready for the Group 1 Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington in early autumn.
A proven performer down the famous Flemington straight, The Quarterback was rated a leading chance of success in the sprint feature over the weekend but finished a credible sixth following a particularly tough run in transit, on the wrong part of the track.
A post-race veterinary exam revealed that the Street Boss gelding had suffered swelling and cuts to the legs, as well as a sore off hind and back from his run in the Darley Classic.
Griffiths said that he had always planned to send The Quarterback to the paddock following his third-up run, but is concerned that the horse will not be ready in time for the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes (1000m) on February 18th.
“He got galloped on quite badly behind and is sore in the hindquarters as a result,” Griffiths told Racing Victoria.
The Quarterback has posted a total of nine wins through his thirty career starts so far and interestingly, five of those have been claimed in races down the Flemington straight.
The now six-year-old has been a consistent performer throughout his entire racing tenure but has undoubtedly returned to competition in career-best condition in 2016.
Resuming in autumn for third in the Listed Kensington Stakes (1000m), The Quarterback ran a credible sixth in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) before delivering a field including some of the world’s best sprinters defeat in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) on March 12th.
Progressing to fifth in the Group 1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) and third in the Vobis Gold Sprint (1200m), the gelding out of Soorena returned to the paddock after finishing mid-field in the Group 1 The Goodwood (1200m) on May 21st.
Resuming this time for a commanding win in the Group 2 Gilgai Stakes (1200m), The Quarterback finished fourth in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) in his only start prior to the Darley Classic, on October 21st.
Open an account and bet with Ladbrokes.com.au to take advantage of the best early odds on all major 2017 Autumn Carnival races!