Read what each of the jockeys had to say about the runs of their mounts in the 2021 Black Caviar Lightning at Flemington on Saturday.
Winning Jockey: Jamie Kah:
“He’s just unbelievable. I wish mum & dad could be here today. It would have been awesome. They had a table by the winning post and they would have been there cheering me on. What a horse. Unbelievable.
“I just let him do whatever he wanted to do then. It was beautiful earlier. Pippie set a nice hot tempo and he actually relaxed and dropped the bit. They’re going to do that when they run that quick but it just set up beautifully for him. He wanted to drift in and roll in a bit late but I didn’t really care. I just let him do what he wanted to do.
“He was in a good mood. He was in a good mood when I trialled him. I think he’s just getting better with age. They’ve found the key to him first-up, given him that extra trial and he has to be rockhard fit to run because he runs at such a high cruising speed. The team has done an amazing job and I’m the lucky one to be on him.”
“Just amazing. And credit to the team. Chris Waller, it’s hard getting a horse like this fit because in his work and his trials he does everything so effortlessly. I’m a bit emotional. That was amazing.”
Fourth Group 1 for Kah: “Just to get on a horse of that calibre. I’ve been very lucky to get Group 1’s so far but to get on a horse like him and for Chris Waller, it’s just…. I couldn’t imagine it and to get the job done is amazing.”
Beaten jockeys:
Glen Boss – Bivouac: “He was good. A bit fresh and raced a bit closer than I thought and he’s probably a little bit too close to his top in the middle stages so he blew out. That’s his first run so he’ll improve. He’s a big colt now, a big heavy bugger so he’s going to take a lot out of that.”
Elite Street – Mark Zahra: “Disappointing.”
Luke Currie – Halvorsen: “It was a good effort. Held his ground. They were a bit sharp for him over 1000 metres but it was a nice run for him looking to go to the Newmarket next start.”
Damian Lane – Pippie: “Disappointing.”
Michael Poy – Fabergino: “Really good run. The horse has stepped up to the grades and performed excellently at Group 1 level.”
Craig Williams – September Run: “Amazing in defeat. She’s an amazing racehorse, she loves the straight and she was beaten by a very fast horse when on his day who has the highest sprint rating in the world. I thought she was really good, really impressive.”
Jye McNeil – Swats That: “Great effort. Obviously got beaten by two good horses today so she’s on track.”