Read the comments from the trainers and each of the jockeys about their rides in the 2025 VRC Crown Oaks raced at Flemington on Thursday 6th November.
Winning Trainer: Thomas Carberry
Can you believe it? “Yeah, I saw it, so yeah. It’s an incredible journey, racing, and I think everybody’s proud of it. You meet people here today and they’re legends and to think you can do it, it’s great.”
First up just 13 days ago: “We just looked at her as a horse for the future. She just did things that day that were not normal. It takes a really good horse to do what she did, even in her maiden. It just put the Wakeful on the radar. It became possible after she ran so well, she needed a trip to show her best.”
Good team around: “I think I’m very, very lucky. John Allen and Declan Bates have been such a great help to me in my business. They always help me and give me good advice. That said, John Allen doesn’t give you advice because that’s not his thing. His thing is to ride the horse, and he just does that so well.
“2,500 metres, who else would you want on other than Johnny Allen, especially at Flemington.”
Another G1 for Ballarat: “It’s just an incredible spring carnival. There will be a lot of celebrating going on. We were in the miners’ rest tavern after the Wakeful, but I’m not sure whether that holds us tonight but we’ll see.”
She leaves a hero: “She’s a filly on the up. We had this race in mind for a long time. She missed a run at Geelong and we were put on the back foot a bit, but we found a race that suited Johnny Allen and us at Ballarat a couple of weeks ago and she came through that so well we decided to take our chance in the Wakeful because she’s that type of horse. Today came on the radar because she ran so well there. She looked like she needed the two thousand five hundred metre trip and that was what happened.
“Ballarat is a happening place, winning the Melbourne Cup for the McEvoys and we’re very happy with this result today.”
Winning Jockey: John Allen
“What a filly to win her maiden only two weeks ago. What a great effort by Tommy. He rides his own work. Tommy is a neighbour of mine, he only lives two doors down from me.”
Drawing the outside: “She’s got no early speed so we weren’t going to go changing tactics today. We went back to last, hugged the rails for as long as we could. We were following the right horses into the straight and I knew at the 600 (metres) we were going to run the trip, so my confidence grew at that stage.”
So inexperienced: “It’s hard to imagine, she was raw as you could possibly be. It was obviously a great win at Ballarat, but she was just that raw and inexperienced.”
“And then Tommy rang me and said there wasn’t much coming up for her, only the Wakeful, and I said why not have a crack and see how he goes.”
“She ran so well there, we had to come to the Oaks. So look, what a great filly too, to do what she’s done. She’s pulled up, not a bother on her, and hopefully she’s something to be getting pretty excited about.”
Neighbours: “I run past his house most days when I’m going for a jog, I might have to start calling in and giving a Strictly Business a carrot or something like that. But look, what a training performance, he trains 10 horses, rides them all out himself, and to do what he’s done with this filly, she basically debuted twelve days ago. I know she had one run last prep, but to do what he’s done with the horse, unreal training performance.”
Confident in run: “Nice tempo. The plan was always to go back, she doesn’t have any speed, and she can over-race at times too, so I was happy to take my medicine early.”
“They went a good gallop, and she actually was behind the bridle a bit early, but once they steadied it up mid-race, she got on the bridle, and I was kind of following the right horses at that stage. I had James McDonald just outside me, he was following Ben Allen who was following Mark Zahra, who were probably three of the main dangers.”
“And then, when they peeled off, I was able to come up and underneath them. And to be honest, I knew it was all over. The way she rounded off her race the last day, I knew it was nearly all over turning in.”
Where this ranks: “Obviously right up there, VRC Oaks. She runs in the Munster Colours too, it’s where I’m from, so it’s a group of Irish people that own her, all from my area at home.
“Unreal, and I’ve got a suspension to start off with today, so I’m going to have plenty of time to celebrate.”
Beaten Jockeys:
Mark Zahra (Getta Good Feeling): “Had to peel a little but earlier than I wanted but still I was found wanting late. I think she probably didn’t stay the 2500m and two runs in five days on Good 3s probably paid a toll today.”
James McDonald (The Pearls): “She was fantastic. Stayed well.”
Nash Rawiller (Spicy Lu): “She twisted half her plate off in the run and I felt that that was worrying her slightly throughout the race. I thought at the time maybe she was jarring up a touch but it was quite obvious to me after we pulled up that it would have been causing her some discomfort. She was brave.”
Damian Lane (Just A Journey): “Unfortunately I had to do a bit of work early but she didn’t quite see out the 2500.”
Jamie Melham (Ethereum Girl): “She was good. I just don’t think she runs the 2500 out that genuinely. I think the 2000m is her go.”
Rachel King (Sheeza Diva): “Very honest and tried really hard. She just wanted to overdo it a little midrace.”
Billy Egan (After Summer): “Dom (Sutton) has done a great job with her this prep. This was her grand final and she ran right up to how we felt she would. So a big effort from her for her first prep.”
Ethan Brown (Zouclaire): “She charged a bit that first half of the race. Took me too long to switch her off. She was still plain late. She’s going to be a late bloomer and will be better again next prep.”
Jordan Childs (Voting Rights): “She ran as well as she could. She was probably not strong enough yet to that sort of distance but she will improve.”
Craig Williams (Morisu Ojo): “We’ll see how she gets through the run. She was quite plain. On face value it seemed like a bridge too far for her but we’ll see how she gets through the run and make sure she pulls up ok.”
Ben Allen (Classic Gem): “Super run. Not much luck.”
Harry Coffey (Janey Bopper): “She’ll be better next time but they were a bit classier today with the turn-of-foot.”
