3 minute read
Winning Trainer: Anthony & Sam Freedman (Sam speaking)
"They were both really good. Hopefully he'll (Steel Prince) get a penalty to get into the Melbourne Cup and he wouldn't shirk the task.
"They're both nice horses. Credit to this horse, he's incredible. He's obviously been around a while and he keeps turning up and I said to Jye that if you're right there at the top of the straight he's a horse that loves a dog fight and he was too strong today.
"He loves a dog fight. He gets a bit lost when he goes clear of a field so when they come up along side him he really knuckles down. I knew that when he got near the lead he'd definitely be fighting it out. He's right."
"Steel Prince has probably earnt himself another shot at it, the owners have been really patient with him. They haven't pushed us to get him into the Melbourne Cup. We've looked after the horse first and we'll see how he comes through it. That'll be the plan at this stage.
Jye McNeil's ride: "Brilliant. He's riding at the top of his game at the moment and he's gone well with this horse. He's ridden him really nicely in previous starts."
Quiet occasion: "There's not much celebration. It'd be nice to get on the beers now after the races but it's a time-honoured race and it's a proven lead-up to the Melbourne Cup. Some champions have won this race and gone on to win the Melbourne Cup and this horse is a proven, very good stayer so he seems perfectly placed for the Melbourne Cup."
Compared to last year: "He's better. He had a chequered last prep, got scratched at the gates in the Herbert Power last prep and we lost five or six days work with him. Just wasn't perfect so he's had a perfectly planned prep this time and we know, or we hope, we get in the race (Melb Cup) so we can go there now."
Winning Jockey: Jye McNeil
"He is back. I thought he was pretty tough then. I was in a position that I thought I was going to be a little bit wide the first time leaving the straight, but it all worked out pretty good and his performance was great.
"He went great last year and based on today he's going as well as last time. He'll run an honest race for sure".
Beaten Jockeys (Placegetters):
Damien Oliver on San Huberto (2nd): "He was disappointing. Had a nice enough run but didn't really finish the race off.
Damian Lane on King Of Loegrance (3rd): "Really good run. Probably just might've peaked on his run second-up at the 2400 metres. He improved first-up and hopefully he improves again off that."
Craig Williams on Ashrun (4th): "He was slow out so I think he's going to derive a lot from today's experience. He's also having to come back 600 metres in distance because his two runs this prep have been at 3000 metres. First run for a while and could feel that he's going to sharpen up from today's experience.
"He got into a nice position, nice rhythm, not too fast or too much pressure. But when they quickened along the back I was at him to stay in touch. I just thought once I get him going I have to keep him motivated and rolling down the hill. Unfortunately he didn't handle getting down the hill here at Geelong. He wanted to run a bit right handed when the pressure was on and they wanted to quicken up. At the top of the straight we weren't really going anywhere but when I straightened I thought he was a bit plain, but the last 50 metres he was very solid to the line. I think he'll get so much from today's run."