Find out what the jockeys made of their mounts after the Group 1 $500,000 Moet & Chandon Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick.
Tommy Berry (She’s Extreme): “If I didn’t have Fireburn in the race I was home. But I thought that the other day in the Sires and Fireburn just went straight past me. I played to how the track’s been racing so far. I didn’t want to just pick up from the 600m, I wanted to go. I thought that was the only way we could beat the favourite and it worked in our favour. I’ve got to say her work on Tuesday morning was as good as they work.
“I just lost sight of him (in the Sires’). He surprised me and I think he might’ve surprised her. When horses go past you that quick it sort of breaks your heart a little bit, he definitely broke mine the other day. I didn’t want to give Brenton (Avdulla rider of Fireburn) a chance to get near me today and it worked in our favour.
“It’s a great feeling when you go out with a plan. The other day I let her amble up the rise, hit a bit of a flat spot. I think it really broke my heart when Brenton went past me the other day and it broke it even more when he give me a wave. I think it definitely broke her heart as well. It’s hard for a horse to chase, especially a young horse, when a horse goes past you so quick. When we got an easy time early, which we always looked like getting on paper, I didn’t want to give Brenton any chance to get next to me. I probably got Brenton’s horse out of his comfort zone today and that was a winning move.
“Brenton’s a good mate, it’s all fun and games. There’s no malice between us two at all. Going back nine months ago was probably one of the toughest days I’ve had on a race track, putting him on the ground. So seeing him beat me in Group 1’s it gives me a thrill just to see him doing well and coming back so strong. It was nice to get one back on him though, he’s had enough over the last few weeks so full credit to Brenton he’s an amazing guy and he’s done a really good job.”
Brenton Avdulla (Fireburn): “She tried hard. Went great.”
Kerrin McEvoy (Williamsburg): “Good run by him. He’s run to a nice level there. We’ll see what he can do in the Spring.”
Damian Lane (Let’srollthedice): “Good honest run, just outsprinted.”
John Allen (Counttheheadlights): “Disappointing. Might have been one run too many for the prep.”
Josh Parr (Wealthy Investor): “He’s a talented horse, just outgraded at G1 level at the moment. He’ll come back after a nice break.”
