Monday Rewind: State-by-state expert analysis on who to circle and who to bin

POPULAR trainer Robbie Griffiths soaked up the adulation from many well-wishers at Flemington when his tenacious sprinter gave no quarter to win the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 12: Craig Newitt riding The Quarterback wins race 6 the Lexus Newmarket Handicap during Super Saturday Racing at Flemington Racecourse on March 12, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images for VRC)

POPULAR trainer Robbie Griffiths soaked up the adulation from many well-wishers at Flemington when his tenacious sprinter gave no quarter to win the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap.

Sent out as a $21 outsider, The Quarterback finally fulfilled his promise when he came from last to win Victoria’s premier handicap sprint, overtaking the country’s top sprinter, Chautauqua, in the process.

And the winning jockey and standout of the rider autumn, Craig Newitt, was quick to congratulate Griffiths, who finally bagged first Group 1, saying: “It’s all about him.”

Super Saturday at headquarters wasn’t without controversy too, with Preferment winning the Australian Cup in the protest room.

Welcome to another edition of Monday Rewind.

Trainer Robbie Griffiths will his first Group 1 silverware. Picture: AAP

Michael Manley (Herald Sun)

Flemington

BLITZED

Robbie Griffiths/Craig Newitt/The Quarterback

Extremely popular victory for Robbie Griffiths breaking his Group 1 hoodoo with The Quarterback.

Five weeks ago Craig Newitt only had a couple of rides at Caulfield. He’s been back to his best in recent weeks winning the Blue Diamond and now the Newmarket Handicap on the The Quarterback. He won the Kewney Stakes on Saturday for Mick Price.

The Quarterback has always been able to run mind boggling sectionals and crowned his career with a Newmarket win.

Another Popular Victorian trainer Andrew Noblet has a brilliant filly in Super Cash. Another top galloper by Written Tycoon.

BLUNDERED

Bow Creek again at the start. Missed it by two lengths in the Australian Cup and that’s what he was beaten by.

Chautauqua again down the 1200m straight in a Group 1 event. Far from disgraced but slow early speed and big weight conspired to beat him. For whatever reason, he never really travelled well. Don’t jump off though as Wayne Hawkes said on Friday he won’t be at his peak until the T.J. Smith Stakes.

HORSES TO FOLLOW

Our Ivanhowe wasn’t suited by the slow tempo yet finished off nicely. He’s ready for Sydney and is looking for 2400m.

Alaskan Rose is looking like a stayer this time in. Finished off soundly for third in the Matron Stakes beaten by two smart older mares.

Labdien didn’t have the best run but kept finding to the line when fourth in the Kewney. Extra distance will suit.

Form jockey Craig Newitt pilots The Quarterback to victory in the Newmarket Handicap. Picture: George Salpigtidis

HOT

Craig Newitt is in cracking form. Confidence should be a sky high when he partners Extreme Choice in the Golden Slipper.

Harry Coffey made it back-to-back Group 3 wins on consecutive Saturday’s when he won on Felicienne. Hopefully Signoff’s connections will leave him on the stayer in the spring. What a headline that would make if a cystic fibrosis sufferer could ride the Melbourne Cup winner.

NOT

Trust In A Gust. Wouldn’t settle. Brought his stablemate Stratum Star undone by over-racing. Off to stud for him after a great career.

Noble Protector reared at the start got rid of her jockey then plotted a course through the field gaining rails runs and then putting her head out on the line to score.

Chris Waller’s Newmarket attack. Counterattack dumped his jockey. Japonisme had a nice run and didn’t finish it off while Delectation ran terribly.

Nathan Exelby (The Courier Mail)

Gold Coast

BLITZED

Hugh Bowman and Preferment shone at Flemington. Silky smooth skills in the stewards room backed up Bowman’s decision to roll forward in a race with no pace. That, ultimately, proved the winning move.

HORSES TO FOLLOW

Kool Kompany was one-paced when the sprint went on at Rosehill after sitting closer in the run. Looks suited further now, but he’s turned in two good efforts this time in.

The slow pace didn’t suit Old North at Rosehill and then he had trouble finding clear air. Shapes like he will get further now. Promising 3YO.

Desert General looked ordinary on face value at the Gold Coast, but suspect he won’t be the only horse that flopped on Saturday that will turn it around in coming weeks.

SACK

Keen Array (Flemington) has had two flops this prep. Punters fell into him again here despite the Oakleigh Plate shocker and he produced another poor effort. Hasn’t come on from the spring.

Magic Hurricane (Rosehill) would have carried this lot in the spring but was never a factor, re-enforcing what he had done (or not done) previously this prep.

Craftiness is a shadow of the promising sprinter we were talking about this time last year. Found market support again at Rosehill, but found nothing when asked.

MARKETS

GOLDEN SLIPPER

Rosehill, Saturday

$2.90 Extreme Choice

$6.50 Flying Artie

$8.50 Kiss And Make Up

$9 Astern

$10 Capitalist

$14 Scarlet Rain

$15 Defcon

$16 Calliope

$18 Good Standing

$21+ Others

T.J. SMITH STAKES

Randwick, April 2

$3.80 Exosphere

$4.60 Chautauqua

$7.50 English

$12 Terravista

$13 Japonisme

$15 Holler

$16 Lucky Hussler

$17 Counterattack

$21+ Others

Odds: UBET

THIS WEEK

Tuesday: Mackay, Taree, Ballarat

Wednesday: Doomben, Newcastle, Sandown, Mackay, Strathalbyn, York, Launceston

Thursday: Ipswich, Gosford, Albury, Pakenham, Warrnambool, Bunbury

Friday: Sunshine Coast, Rockhampton, Albury, Tamworth, Moonee Valley, Kyneton, Bordertown

Saturday: Doomben, Rosehill, Bendigo, Morphettville, Ascot, Gold Coast, Toowoomba, Kembla Grange, Canberra, Geelong, Geraldton, Alice Springs

Sunday: Sunshine Coast, Dubbo, Wyong, Tatura, Yarra Valley, Port Lincoln, Mt Barker

THE TALKING POINT

The Australian Cup protest. The premium placed on winning is far less now than it was ‘back in the day’. No benefit of the doubt for first past the post anymore, but given the number of people saying the right call was made, clearly modern punters have been conditioned for objections to be upheld.

THE QUOTE

“They say in racing it’s not how good you win, it’s how good you lose that defines you! Congrats to Preferment and connections!” — A graceful Troy Corstens after swallowing the bitter pill of his horse Awesome Rock being relegated in the Australian Cup.

Preferment (left) and Awesome Rock fight out the finish of the Australian Cup before the result was decided in the protest room. Picture: AAP