3 minute read
Trainer and jockey quotes after High 'n' Dry claims the Summer Twilight Racing Trophy Benchmark 70 3YO+ Handicap at Flemington on Saturday.
Race Result:
1st: High 'N' Dry (M Ellerton & S Zahra/Will Price) - $6
2nd: Hasseltoff (R Griffiths & M De Kock/Ms Jamie Kah) - $2.25F
3rd: Great House (C Waller/D Thorton) - $6
Winning Time: 1:38.06 Last 600m: 34.77
Margins: 2¾L x Neck
Winning Trainer: Mat Ellerton & Simon Zahra (Simon speaking)
"He (Price) got him into a lovely position and the favourite was back on the fence. Just followed the horse in front of me in the straight. He can have a bit of a look when he hits the front so he was quite patient, waited and he let down.
"He was a favourite for a Derby as a three-year-old and did a tendon. He's just starting to get back where he was as a three-year-old.
"He's obviously raising the bar and his fitness levels, he's only had one campaign and did a tendon injury. Now he's starting learning to win so we graduate to these Saturdays and we'll give him plenty of time with a tendon injury. We've got to be cautious of that as well. We'll probably wait a couple of weeks before we find a race for him."
Simon on their 2yos ahead - General Beau their flagship at the moment towards Australia Day: "It's been a while since we've had a good two-year-old. I can't remember our last good Blue Diamond chance.
This right now is as much 'crunch time' with two-year-olds as it is in a month: "General Beau has been trialling well enough and he'll look towards the Blue Diamond Previews. It's such a tricky time with these young horses. They're no different to training Cups horses; they go well today and then you feel their shins tomorrow and they're gone.
"We just haven't had the luck with two-year-olds recently for them to be able to stand up in those races. We're still hopeful though."
Winning Jockey: Will Price
"There's a little bit of kickback but the track is in beautiful order. They're getting their toe in nicely and good grass cover all across. It seems very even. The track is always good here."
First ride for the stable: "It worked out perfectly. Obviously they are in good order, the combination, so to get an opportunity for them, and with a few scratchings we were able to get into (barrier) four and have a nice sit on the back of two that I thought were the main dangers and we were able to travel into it beautifully.
"On the backup, back to a mile, he was just in super order today and he travelled up effortlessly today which was good. He was just way too good today.
"It's been really good over the last couple of weeks. I'm getting some nice opportunities from all over which is good and to make the most of them is really good. Hopefully I can build a connection with the Ellerton/Zahra team today."