Quarterback gets his redemption as Waller dominates Warwick Farm

It was a hard watch for supporters of Quarterback last start, but the three-year-old has made amends with a comfortable win in the $100,000 Super Maiden at Warwick Farm.

The gelding was blocked for a run in the straight and unable to be fully tested when beaten as favourite by stablemate Horologist at the same track on October 28.

There were no such traffic issues for jockey James McDonald on Wednesday and Quarterback ($2.05 favourite) was able to stamp his quality, taking out the Tropicus @ Vinery Stud Handicap (1400m) by 1-1/4 lengths over stablemate Darn Sure ($20).

Palm Tree ($6.50) was a similar margin away third and Snitzel A’La Rouge fourth to give trainer Chris Waller the first four across the line.

McDonald was in the saddle for Quarterback’s luckless last start performance and said he was delighted to deliver an overdue win for connections.

“Sometimes you can’t jump them. That’s the luck of racing, and we were able to get a bit of luck today and he dually saluted,” McDonald said.

“He’s nice and progressive. He’s a nice, solid horse. He feels tough. The deeper he goes and once he learns his craft, he’s going to be a nice horse for them.”

Waller’s assistant trainer, Charlie Duckworth, said Quarterback had always shown potential and the stable was surprised it had taken six starts to break his maiden.

While the horse still showed signs of greenness by wanting to hang around the corner, he knuckled down when asked for a full effort by McDonald in a promising display.

“At least it was a Super Maiden, so it’s like winning two,” Duckworth quipped.

“He’s got a bright future, and hopefully he can continue to progress.”

A race later, Russian Revolution mare Miss Supernova posted her first win at her seventh start in the Racing And Sports Handicap (1200m) and nobody was more surprised than co-trainer Sterling Alexiou.

While he didn’t doubt Miss Supernova was capable, he did despair when she sweated up badly pre-race then travelled keenly in the lead.

“I was really upset with the way she paraded, but anyhow, she’s won and hopefully she can go on with it now because she’s got the ability,” Alexiou said.

“She’s got stakes ability, she just hasn’t brought it to race day yet. She has been very much a work in progress.”

Miss Supernova ($5.50) had a length to spare over Rishaka ($3.60 fav) with Single Ladies ($4.40) third.

The afternoon was tinged with sadness as jockeys in the fifth race wore black armbands as a tribute to apprentice Izzy Neale, who tragically died on Tuesday from injuries sustained in a race fall at Warren two days earlier.