3 minute read
Trainer and jockey quotes after the Robert Taranto Handicap at Caulfield won by Sword Of Mercy.
Race Result:
1st: Sword Of Mercy (M Ellerton & S Zahra/D Lane) - $6.50
2nd: Diamond Effort (C McDonald/J Kah) - $5.50
3rd: Alfa Oro (M Laurie/D Stackhouse) - $2.90 fav
Winning Time: 56.99 Last 600m: 33.04
Margins: 1-¼ Len x ½ Len
Winning Trainer: Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra (Simon speaking)
"She was a bit unlucky in the Oakleigh Plate. I'm pretty rapt with the way she is going. I just thought doing the form, that she had beaten Zoutori home in the Oakleigh Plate and was around Group 1 horses, so I just thought this was her race.
"He rode her well. We had planned to ride her a little bit more quietly than that, but Damian went to plan B and she looked the winner a long way out."
Oakleigh Plate being a career PB: "Being a mare she has taken a while to put it all together, pending getting a bit of 'black type'.
"She spent three weeks up the farm. Had a little soft jump-out last week ahead of this race.
"We'll look to head to Adelaide or that VOBIS race here in a few weeks. There's a couple of options, but 'black type' is what we need for her family."
Winning Jockey: Damian Lane
"She flew the gate and I was surprised to land first in the run, but I was joined very quickly by Sartorial Splendour. He raced off into the distance and I was doing a bit of donkey work into the breeze, taking the rest of the field up which is not good.
"She's a good horse. She's come a long way in this last year or so, since the start of this prep even.
"Well done to everyone at Ellerton-Zahra Racing being able to freshen her up off the back of the Oakleigh Plate run and hopefully that's not the end of it yet."