Darren Weir has become the go-to man for West Australians looking to make a statement on the east coast and his latest success has come with four-year-old mare Quilista.
On a memorable day for the affable trainer at Rosehill Gardens, Quilista dominated the Group III Birthday Card Stakes (1200m) from start to finish under Tommy Berry.
Earlier in the day, Weir had opened his Group 1 account in Sydney with Gailo Chop in the Ranvet Stakes, while Master Of Arts claimed the Group III Manion Cup.
Winner of the Listed Rangeview Stud 3yo Classic (1400m) just over a year ago for Perth trainer Justin Warwick, Quilista was transferred to Weir in the hope of boosting her broodmare appeal with son black-type on the eastern seaboard.
"Justin still owns her. He sent her over to hopefully better her career and win a Group One race and she's on the right track," Weir's stable representative Jarrod McLean told AAP.
The daughter of Scandal Keeper ended the winning run of the favourite Sugar Bella (Not A Single Doubt) by one and a quarter lengths with Hetty Heights (Written Tycoon) a further two and a half lengths back in third. (photo Steve Har t).
A bargain basement $10,000 purchase by Justin Warwick from the draft of Korilya Stud at session two of the 2015 Perth Magic Millions Yearling Sale, Quilista advances her record to 7 wins, 3 seconds and 4 thirds from 18 starts with earnings of $390,200.
She is the best of four winners from five to race out of the stakes-placed Brocky's Ace (Surtee).
A yearling colt by Gingerbread Man out of Brock's Ace was knocked down to Commercial Bloodstock Services for $50,000 at the recent Perth Magic Millions.
After missing to Gingerbread Man in 2016, Brocky's Ace was covered by War Chant (USA) last spring.
Quilista is the only stakes winner to date for her sire Scandal Keeper (USA), a Darley-bred three-quarter-brother by Danzig to Group 1 winner Camarena who is the dam of Group 1 winner Camarilla (the dam of Guelph and Ghibellines) and the Listed winner Induna.
Scandal Keeper (USA) died in 2017 after 10 seasons at stud.
