Read what the jockeys said about their rides in the 2025 Blue Diamond Stakes.
Michael Dee (Devil Night) – How it unfolded: “A little bit differently than I anticipated. I thought there would be a little more pressure than that. I ended up outside the leader, basically by default. He was a little bit keen, travelled a little bit strong and he fought on well. Luckily he did.”
Feeling vulnerable: “He gave a really good kick when I asked the question and really took off and got that winning edge. It was a credit to him. He was tough. We didn’t want it to much further. It would have been good if he could come back a little and relax, especially with cover, he would be better. He was too good.”
Right time of day for race to unfold that way: “I think you could win from anywhere today. You’re still facing the breeze out there, so it does make the effort even better.”
Damian Lane (Tentyris): “He’s run enormous, had all the momentum but missed by a stride.”
Mark Zahra (Tycoon Star): “He ran super, I daresay with a barrier he might’ve won it.”
Regan Bayliss (The Playwright): “Honest as the day is long, obviously at the end of a long campaign, to hold on and run fourth, she’s done a terrific job.”
Daniel Stackhouse (Eden Rose): “She was enormous, big outsider but she ran really well.”
Blake Shinn (Field Of Play): “Face value disappointing, I think he struggled in the really hot conditions, he worked himself up pre-race and therefore I think that told in his performance.”
Craig Williams (Tempted): “I thought she acquitted herself well at her third ever race start, got a little bit lost when she came out being first way Melbourne.”
Jamie Mott (My Gladiola): “I was able to get cover on her today and once I got cover I expected her to really pick up. She raced like she’d come to the end of her preparation.”
Patrick Moloney (Autumn Mystery): “Terrific run. Race shape was against him today, they went a sedate tempo and really sprinted but he still had the audacity to find the line out wide. He’s going to be really well suited as a three-year-old getting over a bit more ground. Nice horse.”
Jamie Melham (Cherish Me): “Very nice horse, just not there yet. She’s got a group one in the making down the road but she needs a spell, she’s just not a two-year-old.”
Ben Melham (Extractor): “I thought he ran well, he’ll be better for the experience this way of going, pretty messy run race.”
Jye McNeil (Miss Celine): “Just an average ride by me, got caught wide and overworked the whole way, saved nothing for the finish.”
Harry Coffey (Wiltshire Square): “Firming track after a long campaign, it might’ve all hit her today. She was gallant as always and tough but she didn’t bring her best.”
Billy Egan (Olatunde): “Probably wasn’t quite up to them today.”
