What the jockeys said after the running of the Group One Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington on Saturday.
HUGH BOWMAN (Sangster) 1st – (on the early trouble) “I was in a good spot and when I was three deep with cover, I was happy to be there. He’s a big-striding horse and I’ve ridden him work. He had an uninterrupted run and that’s the key to winning these races. (on perhaps going too early) I didn’t want to go when I did but the horse in front of me punctured. If I didn’t go forward, they would have fallen into my lap. Once I exposed him, he just took himself there, I held on to him as much as I could. I could feel Induna coming but my horse wasn’t tiring, he just started running in. (On his second Derby in a row ) “Who would have thought, eh?
KERRIN MCEVOY (Induna) 2nd – “It’s disappointing when things go wrong in these big races. The interference was bad. I still ended up in the same place in the run, but being inconvenienced like that doesn’t help.”
DAMIEN OLIVER (Sabrage) 3rd – “Yeah, it was a nice run. They took off a bit early, I thought it was too soon for them to be going but he worked home really well at the end.”
STEPHEN BASTER (Zabeelionaire) 4th – “He ran super, he was probably just a preparation away. He overraced a bit early and still does a bit wrong but watch out for him next prep.”
JOAO MOREIRA (Isopach) 5th – “I reckon he ran a very good race. I was a bit unlucky on the first bend, some of the horses pushed me wide and I clipped some heels. He managed to make a lot of ground in the straight. I was happy with the way he went and hopefully I can stick with him.”
GLYN SCHOFIELD (Manawanui) 6th – “The 2500 metres was just too much for him. He was creditable in the end, but he just didn’t see the trip out.”
BRENTON AVDULLA (I Feel Good) 7th – “He ran super. We had a nice run in transit. Coming from not winning a Bairnsdale maiden to running seventh in the Derby, he’s done a good job. In six months’ time, he’s going to make a very good horse.”
DWAYNE DUNN (Scelto) 8th – “He ran really well. He had a nice run in transit, but when he was presented he just wasn’t good enough.”
CRAIG NEWITT (Costly Commitment) 9th – “He got stood on his head at the top of the straight but it was partly his own fault. He just one-batted after that.”
DEAN YENDALL (Eagle Command) 10th – “He’s 12 months away from his best and is still learning the caper.”
MICHAEL RODD (Mr Chez) 11th – “He was just a bit outclassed.”
CRAIG WILLIAMS (Cornell) 12th – “He had a lovely run throughout. He just wasn’t strong enough this year.”
NASH RAWILLER (Niagara) 13th – “He overcame his wide barrier quick smart but he was always up the front on his own and he was left a sitting shot at the end.”
STEVEN ARNOLD (Rapidus) 14th – “He’s a nice horse, he’s just not quite there yet. He’s a bit immature, probably six months off.”
CLARE LINDOP (Perfect Punch) 15th – “He’s just inexperienced. On the first turn the horse outside of me wanted to charge a bit at the turn and unfortunately I had no option but to go forward and he ran his race then.”
NICHOLAS HALL (Collar) 16th and last – “He overraced in the early stages and that was it.”
AAP TURF
