Newmarket Handicap Best On Breeding… By Kristen Manning

Spieth is aiming to break his G1 duck in Saturday's Newmarket Handicap. Photo courtesy of Geo Hillis Photography.
Spieth is aiming to break his G1 duck in Saturday’s Newmarket Handicap. Photo courtesy of Geo Hillis Photography.

There is a bit of history against The Quarterback as he attempts to take out consecutive running’s of the Gr.1 Newmarket Handicap but should he win he will cap off a remarkable few weeks for Gilgai Farm who bred him and the recent Inglis Melbourne Premer $1.4 million I Am Invincible sale-topping colt.

Who, incidentally, is a half-brother to The Quarterback.

Not since Razor Sharp in 1983 has a horse won two Newmarket’s in a row and not since Polycrates in 1917 has it been won by a horse having his first run back from a spell.

Newmarket blood runs through The Quarterback’s veins, his fifth dam Briolette being a half-sister to one of the race’s best winners in Baguette (1971).

In recent years both Lankan Rupee and Black Caviar have followed up Lighting Stakes success with a Newmarket win which is what Terravista, who is one of five stakes winners produced by marvellous mare Parfore, is attempting on Saturday.

Despite the fact that the Newmarket has been run since 1874, only five New Zealand bred horses have won the premier sprint so a win by Spieth – son of Thorn Park from the prolific Ciboulette family – would be a significant one.

Weekend Hussler in 2008 is the last horse to win the Oakleigh Plate and the Newmarket, a double being attempted by Sheidel. By Spieth’s relation Holy Roman Emperor, she is a half-sister to stakes winner Latoria.

One of the best sprinters of the 1990s, Schillaci won the 1992 Newmarket and his relation Voodoo Lad, by the in-form I Am Invincible (also sire of Illustrious Lad from the family of great sprinter Rancher) resumes in this year’s race.

Speaking of I Am Invincible, he is a descendant of the famed matriarch Chelandry who is also ancestress of High Chaparral, sire of Tivaci whose Perth Cup winning grandam Luna Tudor is dam of the Toorak Handicap winner Allez Wonder.

Extreme Choice is looking to become the third Redoute’s Choice sire line Newmarket winner after Lankan Rupee. He is out of a mare by Hussonet whose son Weekend Hussler won the race in 2008.

Meanwhile Redoute’s Choice is represented by Counterattack, a half brother to the Group One sprinters Red Tracer and Shellscrape (who was unplaced in the memorably wet 2010 Newmarket won by Wanted).

Star Witness wasn’t able to place in the 2011 Newmarket won by Black Caviar but his son Star Turn is a leading contender this year. He is bred for speed on both sides with his dam being the terrific sprinter Golden Delicious.

Second up into the Newmarket having won the Rubiton Stakes, Super Cash is by Written Tycoon. He is bred on a 5 X 6 cross of Better Boy who sired three Newmarket winners including outstanding stallion Century.

As the first Hong Kong trained horse to win a major race on Australian soil, Cape Of Good Hope broke ground winning the 2005 Australia Stakes. It is a bit of a different story with Redkirk Warrior as he is now trained locally (Lindsay Park) but he is representing Hong Kong form lines. His sire Notnowcato was a high class 2000m horse whilst his dam is a half-sister to the Italian Listed winner Armenian Dancer.

The outsider of the field, Inspector is a California Dane half-brother to the Perth Listed winner Hoegaarden out of a stakes placed full sister to Intergaze who on this weekend 17 years ago won the Australian Cup.

 

Stay up to date with the latest racing news
Follow our social accounts to get exclusive content and all the latest racing news!