Find out what the jockeys made of their mounts after the Group 1 $3,000,000 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield.
Ben Melham (Griff): “He began exceptionally well and the more I looked at the race the more I thought initially there was no speed and in group one races that kind of plays on people.
“Throughout the day, things can change and when he began in the manner that he did, he rolled across and got across so easily.
“He just lobbed along in a beautiful rhythm. I started to quicked up from the 500-600 (metre mark) and he spotted something on the inside of the track and nearly threw the race away. He did a right-turn on me.
“Very good, courageous effort by the horse and a great job by the stable. They kept him up a while and kept him winning. Here he is now a Caulfield Guineas winner.”
Joao Moreira (Militarize): “He didn’t have that early speed that I needed to put himself into a prominent position. Considering he got that far back and hit the line into a good fifth, I would call it a really good run.”
Damien Oliver (Little Brose): “Had a great run and he ran a great race, just ran as good as he could go.”
Michael Dee (King Colorado): “Tried super hard, unfortunately we didn’t get cover there but he stuck on. To his credit, he ran a great race.”
John Allen (Steparty): “He’s run well, just the way I presented on the corner I would say he was a little disappointing. Ben (Melham on Griff) definitely controlled it in front but I thought we got into it at the right time (to be in the finish).”
Damian Lane (Veight): “He ran super. He travelled in the run great, when I got out I thought I was a winning chance but unfortunately the winner had an answer when I got to him and he was really strong over that last 150. He’s back to his best, tried hard and unfortunately the winner was too good on the day.”
Mark Zahra (Scheelite): “Beautiful run, just didn’t finish off today.”
Ben Allen (Scentify): “Couldn’t have ended up in a worse spot but he was still OK late.”
Harry Coffey (Southport Tycoon): “He had a forgetful day. Things just didn’t go right. We didn’t get to see the best of him, he missed the start, got back, got in interference and it was just a tough day for him.”
Blake Shinn (Wolfy): “They went slow, he got back and it just made it hard for where we were today.”
Beau Mertens (Verdad): “Terrific run. This horse just keeps impressing me every time he steps out, he’s so versatile and today he proves he deserves to be on this stage and hopefully he can hold up and get to a Derby.”
Tim Clark (Rock Empire): “Had a nice but he probably just lacks a bit of maturity. I think he’ll get to a nice level eventually.”
Jye McNeil (Limburg): “Copped interference at the top of the straight and wasn’t able to finish off.”
Jordan Childs (Copacabana): “He’s just not up to that level yet.”
Brian Higgins (The Longest Yard): “Had the right run in the race, just didn’t finish off. End of prep run.”
