Read what each of the jockeys had to say about their rides in the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (16/11/2024) at Caulfield.
Craig Williams (Kimochi) On drawing wide: “I spoke to Gary Portelli, the horse’s trainer Wednesday when the barrier draw came out and she drew wide and I just said ‘look, she too good a credentialed horse, multiple Group 1 placed, she’s got 52.5kg on her back, let’s worry about when we get there. We can’t control weather, track patterns and all that, we don’t know what it’s going to be like so I’m glad he trusted his horse and his instincts to run here, so well done to Gary, well done to Yulong and she’s a well-deserved Group 1 winner today.”
Jamie Kah (Another Wil): “So close. Can’t ask for much more. Just the drying track probably pulled him up a little bit the last hundred, but he’ll win one soon.”
Daniel Moor (Steparty): “He was very brave; obviously well-prepared off a nice mark. He had a good tow into the race, that swooping sort of bunch you need to be in, and he finished off strong.”
Mark Zahra (Southport Tycoon): “Battled on okay.”
Ethan Brown (Tuvalu): Unavailable for comment.
Daniel Stackhouse (Climbing Star): “She began nice, I thought we settled in a good position, following Another Wil, took us into the race. Just thought when she got out, she should’ve produced a lot more than she gave, so see how she pulls up.”
Robbie Dolan (Bittercreek): “Really good through the line; he’s going to be a nice horse in time.”
Michael Dee (Charm Stone): “Very, very messy race; never got a lot of peace out there, got knocked around a lot. Definitely should’ve finished closer, but just needed a run to be on the outside of horses with a little bit of peace.”
Celine Gaudray (Buffalo River): “A genuine tempo didn’t really suit his way of racing and just a big gap between runs has seen him out.”
Damian Lane (Jimmysstar): “Disastrous. Held up for clear running on straightening and went to the line under a canter.”
Declan Bates (War Machine): “Just didn’t pan out for him; he began very well but the negative from that was he just ended up close to the speed, no cover and got a bit tired.”
Carleen Hefel (Roll On High): “Very plain today; she never really travelled at all.”
Patrick Moloney (Run Harry Run): “Wasn’t ideal leading but we landed there. Had a cruisy time in front. I thought he was very basic towards the line.”
Luke Nolen (Gentleman Roy): “Just didn’t find the right run today. I looked after him late when he was beat.”
