Qfighter impressive on debut

BETTING ring firmer Qfighter raced right up to expectations with an impressive debut performance at the Gold Coast this afternoon.
Trained at Murwillumbah by Matt Dunn, Qfighter firmed from $4 into $1.90 favourite in the Sea FM QTIS 2YO Maiden Plate (900m).
Qfighter was always trapped wide from his awkward gate, but sprinted quickly in the straight to put paid to his opposition in a couple of strides.
Apprentice Patrick Keane sent him to the line 3-/3/4 lengths to the good of Wise Commander ($15) with two lengths to Jet Blaze ($6) in third. Qfighter ran the 900m in a slick 51.81.
By Jet Spur, Qfighter is out of the former classy Queensland mare Suzy Grey. Suzy Grey won 10 races, including the 2003 Eye Liner Stakes and the 2002 Group Two Swettenham Stud Stakes in Adelaide.
Qfighter is raced by Robert Sheahan, from Kurrajong in NSW, and a group of family and friends.
“I bought Suzy Grey for $45,000 from Stuart Ramsey when she was in foal with this colt, so now it’s looking like a pretty good buy,’’ said Sheahan.
“This colt has shown us a fair bit on the training track and we were very confident he would win on debut. We’ll see how he pulls up but we are keen to tackle a Listed race in Brisbane with him next.’’
The first division of today’s QTIS 2YO Maiden Plate was won by the Liam Birchley-trained Shamrock Slipper ($1.60 fav) who scored by three-quarters of a length in 52.25.
Story: Neil Archer