3 minute read
Trainer and jockey quotes following the Group 2 Tramway Stakes won by Zaaki at Randwick on Saturday.
Race Result:
1st: Zaaki (A Neasham/J McDonald) - $2.30F
2nd: Aramayo (C Waller/J Collett) - $41
3rd: Star Of The Seas (C Waller/H Bowman) - $11
Winning Time: 1:22.33 Last 600m: 34.92
Margins: 1½L x 1¼L
Winning Trainer: Annabel Neasham
On the horse: "It's a bit of a relief to tell you the truth. I knew he was going well leading into this but just wondered whether 14(00m) would be a bit short of his best. He's got plenty of improvement left in him. Should be in for a really exciting campaign."
On his prep to now: "He was showing me similar to last prep. I was quite confident with him (I know he was paying 100-1 in the Doncaster) leading into that race. He was probably the same today. Just the last couple of weeks I've really noticed the change in him. He has a couple of little quirks but on the whole he is quite straight forward. The fresher he gets the better he is and I've seen that side of him over the last couple of weeks."
On the future: "We go to a mile or we go to 1800m in the Underwood. We will see how he pulls up and work that out next week. We have a few logistics to work out if he is to go down to Melbourne. He will certainly have one run down there before the Cox Plate. Whether he has two, well we will let the dust settle and see how he comes through. He will be hard to beat wherever he goes."
On the potential scary improvement left in him: "It's a little bit yet yeah."
Winning Jockey: James McDonald
On the horse: "Anyone could have won on him today. He was electric. He put a good field to shame and did it easily. God help us these borders open. I want to get down there. He just oozes confidence, he's going through the grades really well."
Compared to last prep: "There's not much to be honest. He's just a very confident horse. I rode him when I got beat on him here. He didn't give me that same feel that he did up in Queensland. It was like that Hollindale just sparked him. Now he struts around like he owns the joint. He knows he's King Kong. He's going well. It's up to Annabel to set him a track to a Cox Plate and he'll be there with flying colours on I would have thought."
On his top WFA standing: "Off that you'd have to say so. He was carrying a bit of residual fitness as well so he wasn't on the back foot like a few of the others but in saying that he couldn't have been more impressive."
Beaten Jockeys:
Nash Rawiller (Dreamforce): "I've never walked away from the races disappointed with him before but I was a bit today. He's had a good blow. Maybe he's not quite where we wanted him."
Kerrin McEvoy (Lion's Roar): "He will benefit from that run. He got a little bit keen mid-race when they steadied up. Had to come back to get some cover. Better with the run under his belt now."
Kathy O'Hara (Shout The Bar): "Nice run from a mare who will benefit from the run. The mile mares will be her aim."
Hugh Bowman (Star Of The Seas): "That was a better performance from him. He will enjoy the mile in a couple of weeks should that be where he goes."
Jay Ford (Rock): "Lovely honest run."
Louise Day (Man Of Peace): "Good run.They are a little bit too good for him in this race. Good effort."
Regan Bayliss (Prime Star): "On face value a little bit disappointing run. He didn't give the kick like we know he can."
Jason Collett (Aramayo): "Good return. Nice turn of foot."
Sam Clipperton (All Saints' Eve): "Not a bad first up run. Race was run at a pretty strong pace. She was chasing the whole way. She will take improvement being an older mare and is in for a nice prep."