Cover image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Quarterback leads Chris Waller-trained first four home at Warwick Farm
It was a deserved breakthrough for consistent 3-year-old gelding Quarterback (NZ) (Super Seth), who capped off some solid recent form, including an extremely unlucky run last time out, with a victory at Warwick Farm for jockey James McDonald and trainer Chris Waller.
The son of Super Seth jumped quickly, but McDonald was happy to ease him back into a lovely position in the one-one, trailing Bogey Free (NZ) (El Roca), who settled outside the pace-making Shahaameh (All Too Hard), ridden by Dylan Gibbons.
McDonald was taking no chances when it came to finding clear running, peeling out wide and looming into contention soon after straightening. The Ingham Racing duo of Darn Sure (Too Darn Hot {GB}) and Palm Tree (Street Boss {USA}) both finished strongly to fill second and third, beaten a length and two lengths by the winner, respectively, while Snitzel A’La Rouge (Snitzel) ran on strongly for fourth to complete a Chris Waller-trained first four.
Video: Watch Quarterback in Race 1 at Warwick Farm, video courtesy of Racing NSW
However, all honours belonged to Quarterback, who thoroughly deserved the victory and shapes as the kind of horse who could even appreciate a step up in distance in the future.
Assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth believes there is plenty more to come.
“That was a great performance. I can’t believe he was still a maiden today as he has shown good ability all the way through and it’s taken a few more runs than we would have initially thought for him to break through for a maiden win, but at least it was a Super Maiden so it’s like winning two,” he said.
“He saw that journey out well and I think he will stay beyond that as well and hopefully he can continue to improve.”
“He (Quarterback) saw that journey out well and I think he will stay beyond.” - Charlie Duckworth
James McDonald was equally encouraged by the performance and believes the gelding has plenty of upside.
“He’s a progressive horse that can get through his grades,” McDonald said.
“He feels tough and once he learns his craft he’s going to be a nice horse for the owners.”
“He’s (Quarterback) a progressive horse that can get through his grades. He feels tough .” - James McDonald
Quarterback | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Pedigree info: Quarterback was purchased by Mulcaster Bloodstock Ltd and Chris Waller Racing for NZ$120,000 from the Pencarrow draft at the 2025 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.
Sales info: Quarterback is out of the two-time winning Encosta De Lago mare Floating Heart (NZ), who comes from a strong Pencarrow Stud family. Her dam Amaryllis (NZ) (Red Ransom) was a Group 3 winner, while her grandam Lafleur (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) was a dual Group 2 winner.
Floating Heart has now left three winners from four to race, with the standout performer so far being the three-time Hong Kong winner Ka Ying Lightning (NZ) (All Too Hard).
Floating Heart has recently left a 2-year-old colt by Hello Youmzain (Fr), who is offered through the Apex Bloodstock draft as Lot 256 at next week's New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale, and a yearling filly by Ace High. She was also due to foal to Armory (Ire) this spring.
Priory Park continues to impress with third career win
The Annabel and Rob Archibald-trained Priory Park (Wild Ruler) is putting together an impressive record, with the flashy grey gelding collecting his third win from just five starts at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
On paper, he appeared a class above his opposition following a dominant victory at Kembla Grange late last month, and James McDonald rode him accordingly, jumping out quickly, taking up the lead, dictating the tempo and eventually scoring in comfortable fashion by a length and three-quarters.
The well-backed Bjorn Baker-trained Regal (King’s Legacy) looked capable of making a race of it for much of the journey in the hands of Sam Clipperton, who positioned her outside the leader. However, approaching the turn, the daughter of King’s Legacy came under heavy pressure as Priory Park kicked clear.
To her credit, Regal battled on well to finish second, a length and three-quarters behind Priory Park, with Baylie’s Folly (Stratum Star) a head further back in third.
Video: Watch Priory Park in Race 3 at Warwick Farm, video courtesy of Racing NSW
However, given the manner of Priory Park's victory, it would be no surprise to see Saturday-grade races feature prominently on his agenda in the coming weeks.
Co-trainer Rob Archibald was pleased with the performance and believes the gelding is continuing to head in the right direction.
“I thought that was very pleasing and he put the writing on the board first up with a really nice performance and to back it up here against some stronger company is a good stepping stone for him as he is a horse we have plenty of time for and is headed in the right direction.
“James knew what he had underneath him and rode him accordingly, he relaxed beautifully and has matured a lot now that he is a gelding.”
Winning jockey James McDonald was also impressed, describing the gelding as a horse with plenty of ability.
“He’s a beautiful horse, takes everything in his stride and is such a dude,” McDonald said.
“He’s (Priory Park) a beautiful horse, takes everything in his stride and is such a dude.” - James McDonald
“He rides beautifully and is well above average.”
Priory Park | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Sales info: Priory Park was purchased for $220,000 by Neasham and Archibald Racing, William Johnson Bloodstock (FBAA) and Eric Lucas from the Riverstone Lodge draft at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Pedigree info: Priory Park is one of 29 winners by Wild Ruler and is the first foal out of the Listed winner Incredulous Dream (Press Statement). She is also well-related, being a half-sister to the dual Group 2 winner Global Exchange - Enjoying (H.K.) (Dundeel {NZ}).
This is also the family of the dual Group 3 winner and Group 1-placed So Si Bon (So You Think {NZ}), the Group 3 winner Yonce (NZ) (Proisir) and the Group 2 winner Faith Hill (Danehill {USA}).
Incredulous Dream, who herself was bought off the track through the 2022 Inglis Digital August Sale by James Bester Bloodstock for $465,000, has left a 2-year-old colt by Justify (USA) and a yearling filly by Zoustar, who will be offered at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale on behalf of Riverstone Lodge as Lot 177. She also foaled a Home Affairs colt last month.
Coulthard steps up in grade to claim G3 TAB Mile
The in-form Lisa Latta stable was to the fore again at Riccarton, with her 5-year-old gelding Coulthard (NZ) (Redwood {GB}) making the step up in grade look easy as he claimed the G3 TAB Mile in impressive fashion under Bruno Queiroz, despite racing greenly down the straight.
Toa Haka (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) made things interesting early, flying out of the gates for Amber Riddell to take up the lead, although he arguably did a little too much in the early stages in terms of speed. Omega Boy (NZ) (Time test {GB}) settled handy, while race favourite Hakkinen (NZ) (Savabeel) enjoyed a lovely run in fourth under Michael McNab.
Upon straightening, McNab looked to have Hakkinen in a winning position as he eased the favourite into clear running, while Omega Boy was also travelling reasonably well.
However, it was Queiroz who was making the strongest move aboard Coulthard, with the gelding cruising up to take the lead. He wanted to lay in a little down the straight, but the race was already in safe keeping, with Coulthard scoring by just under two lengths.
Omega Boy was game in defeat to finish second, while Iron Hawk (Written Tycoon) ran into third.
Coulthard underwent a change of ownership late last season, with Latta putting together a syndicate to ensure he remained in her stable. She is delighted that her belief in the gelding has now been rewarded.
“It is a big thrill, he had a change of ownership this season, with some older clients and some new, young people, which is absolutely fantastic.
“I knew he was an open class horse, and I said to the guys, let’s build a syndicate and buy him, I think he can get through the grades.
“I knew he (Coulthard) was an open class horse, and I said to the guys, let’s build a syndicate and buy him, I think he can get through the grades.” - Lisa Latta
“I set him for this race when he went out for a spell last season.
“He has run a lot of placings and he is just finally starting to do things right and get his head down a bit. He always looks a bit awkward, but he will carry on with it.”
Coulthard (NZ) | Image courtesy of Race Images South
Sales info: Coulthard was withdrawn from the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale.
Pedigree info: Coulthard becomes the 19th stakes winner for his sire Redwood (GB), who stands at Westbury Stud.
He is out of the More Than Ready (USA) mare Best Of British, who has left three winners, with the eight-time winner Trident (NZ) (Smart Missile) her best performer aside from Coulthard.
The family is a little light on close-up black type, but the extended family does include the G2 QTC Cup winner Into The Night (Rhythm {USA}) and the Group 1 winner and stallion Jetball.
In recent years, Best Of British has left an unraced 3-year-old filly named Miss Doyle (NZ) (El Roca) and is due to foal to All Too Hard this month.
Beautifully bred Moongleam breaks through
It may have only been a maiden handicap over 1600 metres at Scone, but the victory was an important one for beautifully bred Moongleam (The Autumn Sun), who finally opened her winning account.
It is a result that will hold plenty of significance when the mare eventually heads to stud for owners Arrowfield Stud and Hermitage Thoroughbreds.
It was a small but select field, with the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Shanti (NZ) (Ardrossan) working across from a wide barrier to take up the lead under Louis Beuzelin. Anna Roper settled race favourite Reelflare (The Autumn Sun) in the one-one, while Aaron Bullock was content to ride Moongleam quietly, settling her at the rear of the small field.
Video: Watch Moongleam in Race 2 at Scone, video courtesy of Racing NSW
The leader rolled along at a reasonable tempo before kicking strongly at the top of the straight. Reelflare loomed into contention but came under pressure, while Bullock was beginning to warm Moongleam up through her gears out wide.
The filly hit top stride, levelled up at the 100-metre mark and powered away to score impressively by a widening margin of just under a length and a half from Shanti in second, with Reelflare finishing another two and a half lengths behind the runner-up.
It was an encouraging performance that suggested a rise in grade should hold no fears for Moongleam, who will now look to build on her record in the coming months in the famous Arrowfield Stud colours.
Sales info: Moongleam was bred and is raced by Arrowfield Pastoral Pty Ltd and Hermitage Thoroughbreds.
Pedigree info: Moongleam is the only foal out of the Great British 2-year-old winner Wren (GB) (Raven’s Pass {USA}), who sadly died in 2022.
Wren is beautifully bred, being a half-sister to the Listed Warrnambool Cup and Listed Werribee Cup winner Tall Ship (Ire) (Sea The Stars {GB}) and to the dam of the G1 Chantilly Prix de Diane winner Channel (Ire) (Nathaniel {Ire}).
Wren is also out of the G1 Newmarket Cheveley Park Stakes winner Magical Romance (Ire) (Barathea {Ire}), while the Group 1 winners Aspetar (Fr) (Al Kazeem {GB}) and Alexandrova (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells {USA}) also feature in the extended family.
