3 minute read
Trainer and jockey quotes after Hai Sun claims the Neds Protest Payout Handicap at Caulfield on Saturday.
Race Result:
1st: Hai Sun (D Yendall/M Freedman) - $20
2nd: Bubbly Lass (J Allen/C Maher & D Eustace) - $7
3rd: Lulu Darling (D Lane/M Hughlin) - $15
Winning Time: 1:12.85 Last 600m: N/A
Margins: 1½L x Neck
Winning Trainer: Mitchell Freedman
Passed in at the sales for $15,000: "I actually really liked this filly at the sales and we put a price forward to the vendors and they weren't interested. I then had a phone call from the current ownership group a few months later saying that they knew that I liked her at the sales and would I be interested in training her.
"So I was rapt to get her. She just had a few little niggles early doors and had to be given some time but she's got good ability.
"I was a bit nervous when she hit the front so far out because when you watch her jump outs when she's hit the front she's idled a little bit. Dean got the best out of her and it's good to see her get the job done. There'll be some happy boys watching the race at home."
Any hesitations with the wet track: "She trailed well on soft ground at Stawell on Tuesday. She didn't love it at Geelong first-up but she knew nothing either so take what you want out of that. She gets through it ok going on that.
"We had to stress and wait for the 7:30am scratchings and I'm glad we got in. Glad she got the job done."
What's next: "(Rivette Final) A little bit too soon. We'd probably kill ourselves a little bit by winning a race in town as a maiden. The prizemoney was there and in her three-year-old season. With the final next week I thought this race might come up a bit softer.
"There's been a bit of thought put into it. She's done a great job and thankful for everyone at home. A good group of people around me and everyone has got a smile on their face even though it is Ballarat in the winter. When that sort of stuff is happening the results show in the track."
Winning Jockey: Dean Yendall
"Mitch was pleased the way she had been going of late. I'd done her form, watched her replays and at Geelong she was a bit new. Then the last couple she was on-speed.
"She trialled at Stawell and they went pretty slow but she seemed to be working nicely enough.
"(It was) a big test for her today amongst horses that have won races. What helped her is that she's pretty race sound, she's done everything right. She began well out of the barriers, found a good position. There was one on the inside likely to over-race a bit so I was aware of that.
"Just sat off the leaders back and asked for an effort. She got a bit lost in the straight when she was out there in front. The testing ground took (toll) on a lot of horses. I felt I was going so slowly in the straight.
"Once she changed gears a bit she stuck on well."