Read what the jockeys made of their mounts after the Group 1 $2,000,000 Schweppes Sydney Cup (3200m) at Royal Randwick.
Rachel King (Arapaho): “You can just see what this horse means to everyone, he’s just been a superstar, he’s won races we never thought he even should have been in at the start and to do what he did today.
“I probably had as many doubts as everyone else about 3200m, I wasn’t quite sure, you know, but the one thing I always say to everyone is I’ve never ridden a horse so honest, he just tries.
“I was bolting, I had to count to 10 and just wait until I got to the top of the rise. He’s got an awesome turn of foot for a stayer.
“I knew if he got an economical run, which he did himself because he jumped super today and put himself in a beautiful spot.
“He went to sleep and look credit to Bjorn and his team. They had him perfect, cherry ripe today, couldn’t have been any fitter and feeling any better.”
Reece Jones (Waltham): “Super effort. Makes you wonder how close he would have gotten if he didn’t get cut out two or three times. Put in a terrific effort.”
Tyler Schiller (River Of Stars): “Super tough effort today. Just didn’t jump as quickly as I would have liked. Had to use him a little bit early. Stuck on super strong. A good contender later.”
Harry Coffey (Duke De Sessa): “Didn’t give a shout today. Was in behind the speed. Maybe the track was too firm. One thing he has is a real crack and was beaten at the top of the straight.”
Damian Lane (Zarir): “Ran well. Just lacked a turn of foot when the runs presented. Once he acclimatises to Australia, under Chris Waller, he will be a nice horse.”
Jason Collett (Circle Of Fire): “Slid forward from the gate. I was off the bridle and wasn’t able to find anything off that tempo. Stuck on.”
Tommy Berry (Athabascan): “Just travelled too much on the bridle today with the blinkers which is unlike him. So we might have gotten that wrong. He is very honest.”
Kerrin McEvoy (Zardozi): “She didn’t stand up great in the gates. Began slowly because of that. Pace wasn’t strong. Presented into the race but ultimately would have enjoyed a nicer tempo.”
Ashley Morgan (Warmonger): “Got himself a lovely spot from a bad gate. Copped a really bad bump and just through him off. Probably 12 months too soon for him.”
Tim Clark (Alalcance): “Probably come to the end of her prep. Just raced a bit keen in the blinkers. Probably needs to conserve a bit more getting out to this trip.”
Jamie Melham (Cleveland): “He really peaked at the 200m. Might be the tracks are too firm for him.”
Teodore Nugent (Francesco Guardi): “Had a beautiful rest. Think his best days are behind him now.”
Andrew Gibbons (Lastotchka): “Just had to go too far back from that gate. She tracked up nicely. When the speed came on at the 1000/800m, it was too big a task coming from where she was.”
Braith Nock (Mostly Cloudy): “He wasn’t quickest away. We got to roll into our spot. I thought he went to the line nicely.”
Alysha Collett (Tajanis): “Massive forgive run. Wasn’t happy on that firm track. Didn’t have much luck from barrier rise.”
Zac Lloyd (Birdman): “Brutally run race. Probably just lacked a bit of strength that last 200m. He was out on his feet.”
Robbie Dolan (Garachico): “Ran a cheeky race for 6th. Just got a little bit lost going the Sydney direction once the tempo quickened. Found the line well. Will be back next year.”
Jay Ford (Strathtay): “Struggled to travel today off that tempo. Made some ground in the run home.”
Dylan Gibbons (Age Of Sail): “Don’t think he backed up.”
Andrew Adkins (Hopeful): “Has run as well as he could. Track wasn’t suited to him. Wanted a heavy track.”
