It was a 1-2-3-4 finish for Darley stallions in Sunday's $200,000 Group II Gilgai Stakes at Flemington but the royal blue of Godolphin was not on the winner's podium.
For a horse that has the class to relegate Black Heart Bart and Chautauqua into the minor placings in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap, The Quarterback has often been an enigma to punters.
The Robbie Griffiths-trained son of Street Boss (USA) was on his best behaviour on Sunday, always travelling like the winner for regular rider Matthew Allen.
In a more forward spot than is usual during the run, The Quarterback cruised to the front 200 metres out and was unpressured in defeating We've Got This (Hard Spun) by three-quarters of a length with Durendal (Medaglia d'Oro) edging out Generalife (Lonhro) for third.(photos Grant Courtney).
In making a successful seasonal debut, The Quarterback advanced his record to 9 wins, 2 seconds and 6 thirds from 28 starts with earnings of $1,453,250.
"He's never a brilliant worker but the way he went the other day we were confident - he worked as if he has never been in better form," Griffiths said.
"We wanted to keep a lid on it as these other horses had race fitness on their side. We thought we'd be realistic and settle for top three.
"We know we've got some improvement there going into the next two Group One races - the Manikato and the Darley Classic."
"The race panned out nicely for him, what pleased me was I was a bit worried about his fitness as we normally kick him off over a thousand (metres) but we thought the small field had the potential for no speed.
"It wasn't run like a solid 1200 (metres) so it gives him a chance to travel and we all know he's got a brilliant turn of speed.
"There's very few horses that can go with him."
A half-brother to multiple Group II winner Philippi (Host), The Quarterback was a $120,000 purchase by his trainer from the Makybe draft at the 2012 Inglis Premier Yearling sale and was bred by Gilgai Farm.
He is the fourth foal of the winning Encosta de Lago mare Soorena a half-sister to the popular, stakes-placed gelding, Philda (Secret Savings) out of the Group II placed Brief truce mare Suraya.
Soorena has a yearling I Am Invincible colt and was covered by the same stallion last spring.
