Ballarat-owned Mr Quickie survived a protest to take out an action-packed group 1 $600,000 Queensland Derby, 2400m, at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
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Previously prepared by Darren Weir, the gelding is now in the care of Phillip Stokes at Pakenham for principal owner, Ballarat-based Wylie Dalziel Roy Higgins Racing syndications. Ballarat's John Allen took the ride.
Damien Oliver, who rode runner-up Vow And Declare, unsuccessfully protested against Mr Quickie for interference over the final 300m.
Oliver told stewards he was forced to ease off the heels of Mr Quickie, which he felt impeded his momentum in the run to the line.
"I lost significant ground at that point and if that interference hadn't occured I felt my horse would've won the race," Oliver said.
Allen disputed Oliver's version of events, telling stewards Vow And Declare had taken minimal ground off Mr Quickie.
"I've held a length-and-a-half margin on him the whole way up the straight and to say it cost him the race is very ambitious," Allen said.
"He isn't making any ground on me until the last 10 metres when I've started to ease my mount down when I had the race safely in my keeping. "It's very ambitious to say the interference cost him the race."
Mr Quickie, backed into $2.80 favouritism, gave Stokes his first Brisbane winner with only his third runner.
"I think the sky's the limit for this horse.
"He's come a long way in a short space of time and who knows what he can measure up to next prep.
"I'll leave him up here for a month and then aim him at the spring in Melbourne. Who knows, a race like the Caulfield Cup could be within his scope," Stokes said.
BALLARAT trainer Simon Morrish is talking about a Melbourne Cup Day start for Chouxting The Mob after he completed a winning hat-trick at Flemington on Saturday
Morrish said the Lavazza Long Black, a support staying race, was the logical option for Chouxting The Mob after taking out the TAB/ATA Celebrates Women Trainers Handicap, 2500m.
For Chouxting The Mob ($13), it was the 11th start of his campaign after having almost two years off the scene because of a cracked bone in a hind leg.
He now races with three screws in the leg and Morrish is mindful of how far he can push into winter with spring races approaching.
This win was his fourth in his past five starts.
"He's gone through his grades well and is probably deserving of a better race," Morrish said.
"I don't know how good he is, but he's a real stayer.
"I think the style of racing suits him. He does nothing for the first 2000 metres and then dashes home."
