Quilista Rounds Out Memorable Day for Weir

Mark Smith - Sunday March 25

Darren Weir has become the go-to man for West Australians looking to make a statement on the east coast and his latest success has come with four-year-old mare Quilista.

On a memorable day for the affable trainer at Rosehill Gardens, Quilista dominated the Group III Birthday Card Stakes (1200m) from start to finish under Tommy Berry.

Earlier in the day, Weir had opened his Group 1 account in Sydney with Gailo Chop in the Ranvet Stakes, while Master Of Arts claimed the Group III Manion Cup.

Winner of the Listed Rangeview Stud 3yo Classic (1400m) just over a year ago for Perth trainer Justin Warwick, Quilista was transferred to Weir in the hope of boosting her broodmare appeal with son black-type on the eastern seaboard.


"Justin still owns her. He sent her over to hopefully better her career and win a Group One race and she's on the right track," Weir's stable representative Jarrod McLean told AAP.

The daughter of Scandal Keeper ended the winning run of the favourite Sugar Bella (Not A Single Doubt) by one and a quarter lengths with Hetty Heights (Written Tycoon) a further two and a half lengths back in third. (photo Steve Har t).

A bargain basement $10,000 purchase by Justin Warwick from the draft of Korilya Stud at session two of the 2015 Perth Magic Millions Yearling Sale, Quilista advances her record to 7 wins, 3 seconds and 4 thirds from 18 starts with earnings of $390,200.

She is the best of four winners from five to race out of the stakes-placed Brocky's Ace (Surtee).

A yearling colt by Gingerbread Man out of Brock's Ace was knocked down to Commercial Bloodstock Services for $50,000 at the recent Perth Magic Millions.

After missing to Gingerbread Man in 2016, Brocky's Ace was covered by War Chant (USA) last spring.

Quilista is the only stakes winner to date for her sire Scandal Keeper (USA), a Darley-bred three-quarter-brother by Danzig to Group 1 winner Camarena who is the dam of Group 1 winner Camarilla (the dam of Guelph and Ghibellines) and the Listed winner Induna.

Scandal Keeper (USA) died in 2017 after 10 seasons at stud.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Price Kent Stable Strike at Tattersalls December Mares
A star studded opening session of the Tattersalls December Mares Sale is underway and before the Sceptre Session started Australian trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr and bloodstock agent Dermont Farrington found value paying 170,000 guineas for Group placed filly Ring True, while Yulong buying as Willingham snapped up a mare in foal to Too Darn Hot.
Daumier's First Season Foals Looking Stunning
Twin Hills Stud’s Blue Diamond winner Daumier has left some stunning foals in his first crop this season and are certainly worth seeing.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday December 3
Here is the full list of 26 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Canterbury
There was a busy set of trials at Canterbury on Tuesday morning with five heats over 900m for juveniles that featured a winning double for Trapeze Artist and an interesting Justify (USA) colt for Yulong that has been named Willingham, which is the name under which they have been buying at the recent Northern Hemisphere breeding stock sale.
Inglis Preview Magazine Now Online
This year’s publication features stories from respected industry personnel such as Ray Thomas, Andrew Rule, Bruce Clark, Trevor Marshallsea, Jess Owers, Tim Rowe, Glen Latham, Bren O’Brien, Michael Cox, Kristen Manning, Jill Williams, Tom Reilly and the Sydney Morning Herald’s senior sportswriter Iain Payten.
Yulong Buy Top Lot Opening Day of Tattersalls December Mares Sale
Caught U Looking was the star turn on the opening day of the Tattersalls December Mares Sale, selling to Yulong, buying as Willingham, for 1,800,000 guineas on an opening day that saw significant increases across the board and five lots sell for 500,000 guineas or more.
$6000 Broodmare a Star Producer
A chance purchase at Karaka has proved to be an outstanding piece of business for Waikato breeders and owners Ross and Corrine Kearney.
Tara Talks Racing Podcast - Summer Series
Spring is sprung, but with G1 racing in Perth and the Magic Millions extravaganza of sales and racing set to unfold in January there is plenty of excitement in our world to inspire new owners into the sport and a bargain priced filly with an x-ray issue was the biggest story on Breednet from last weekend.
The Dennis Brothers Call it a Day
After more than 60 years and a multitude of top-flight success in the role, the Dennis brothers have retired from training.
Durrant promoted to Te Akau assistant trainer
Hunter Durrant has been rewarded for his commitment to leading Te Akau Racing’s Riccarton barn with promotion to assistant trainer for the trans-Tasman operation.