Tests to decide The Quarterback's future

Sunday 19 November 2017, 3:23pm

Tests at the University Of Melbourne Veterinary Clinic in Werribee will determine the racing future of The Quarterback.

The winner of the 2016 Newmarket Handicap, The Quarterback has finished a distant last at his past two starts on the straight course at Flemington where post-race he has been diagnosed with exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage (EIPH).

Trainer Robbie Griffiths said tests would be conducted on the seven-year-old during the week to determine his future.

Griffiths said The Quarterback would undergo a full bone scan as well as tests on his heart and lungs.

"If there is some possibility that he can return that will be discussed once that information comes back," Griffiths said.

"Looking at this preparation it's more probable that he's closer to retirement, but that decision is whether it's now or after next preparation.

"But he won't see a racetrack again unless he trials outstanding or the test are negative.

"Either way he's got a great home awaiting him, but to be fair to the horse and the owners we'll let the experts do their tests and that will help us decide whether he has another preparation or not."

Griffiths said the EIPH had been stopping The Quarterback performing at his best.

The trainer added that regular jockey Matthew Allen had been easing him out of his races which had allowed The Quarterback to recover quickly from the two recent episodes of EIPH.

He said the gelding had not bled from his nostrils.

The Quarterback gave Griffiths his first Group One win when successful in the Newmarket Handicap.

In a career spanning 34 starts, The Quarterback has won nine times and been placed on a further eight occasions, earning more than $1.5 million prize money.

"The last thing we want to see is something happen to him on the racecourse," Griffiths said.

– AAP

Latest News

Prime Thoroughbreds - We have a Host of Leaders in our Team

Tuesday, 29 June 2021

Prime Thor­ough­bred’s cur­rent rac­ing team is putt­ing to­gether quite a re­cord. We have 22 hors­es that have raced in our team at pre­sent. Six­teen of th­ese are win­n­ers in­clud­ing the Stakes win­n­ing trio Ru­bisa­ki, Fituese and Xtreme­time with Miss Di­vine Em and Miss In Charge run­n­ing 4th in Stakes races. This sees a stakes win­n­er to win­n­er ra­tio of 18.75% with a stake’s per­formed to win­n­er ra­tio of 31.25%. Th­ese are ex­cep­tio­n­al fig­ures.   More »

Freedmans land maiden Group One win

Saturday, 27 February 2021

Un­der-rat­ed fil­ly For­bid­den Love has emerged as an au­tumn car­ni­val smokey with a bril­liant per­for­mance to win the Sur­round Stakes at Rand­wick.  More »

Capriccio completes Damian Lane treble

Saturday, 27 February 2021

In a big day for coun­try-trained hors­es, War­r­nam­bool fil­ly Capric­cio has tak­en out the In­glis Dash for Daniel Bow­man.  More »

More news headlines »