Read what each of the jockeys said about their rides in the Kingsford Smith Cup 2025 at Eagle Farm racecourse.
James McDonald (Joliestar): “She made me look really good today. There wasn’t one stage in the race that I thought she was going to win. Then she put in a humongous dive with two strides to go, and I thought at that point we might be a chance. Then I looked up at the camera and saw we got it, she’s a super mare.”
Thoughts in the run: “We hit a flat spot just as the leaders were quickening, so the margin between them and us lengthened greatly in an instant. I thought we were no hope but she’s all class, and we’re so happy to have her.”
Angela Jones (Zarastro): “Super proud of him. So gutsy. He was there until the last stride so he couldn’t have gone any bigger with eight weeks between runs.”
Jason Collett (Golden Mile): “Good performance. Positioned himself well from the gate and was still in the finish. Happy.”
Craig Williams (Kimochi): “She was really good and solid. She gave me a really good run throughout. The leaders got a break and we really had to chase them down. Solid effort and she stuck to the task well.”
Ethan Brown (Rise At Dawn): “He found them a bit sharp off the bridle, but he ran really well and he blew out a bit there late but up in trip is only going to suit him and I think he’s come up really well this prep.”
Mark Zahra (Giga Kick): “Joliestar had a bit more tactical speed than us early, so we’ve come back and followed. We gave them a big start and probably would have liked him to finish off like the winner.
Tim Clark (Benedetta): “She had a good run and it worked out beautifully as we hoped. Just felt that she lost a bit of confidence around the bend on shifty and she has done a bit of racing this preparation. Maybe she has come to the end of it.”
Jamie Mott (Libertad): “A little bit below his best today. Had a perfect run but just wasn’t his best.”
Tommy Berry (Payline): “He gave himself a really good whack at the gates with one of his other legs and never felt great after that.
Kerrin McEvoy (Democracy Manifest): No comment provided
