3 minute read
Trainer and jockey quotes after the Listed Gothic Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday taken out by Extreme Flight.
Race Result:
1st: Extreme Flight (D Thornton/A & S Freedman) - $2.90F
2nd: Prince Alexander (D Bates/A Alexander) - $8.50
3rd: Sandy Prince (C Williams/B & J Hayes) - $4
Winning Time: 1:25.3 Last 600m: N/A
Margins: ½ Head x 6L
Winning Trainer: Anthony & Sam Freedman (Sam speaking)
"It was terrific. It was good for Damien Thornton who has had three wins on him now. He's done a lot fo work for the stable and he's getting his just reward.
"Credit to all the staff at home. They've done a terrific job. This horse has been up for a while and it took a couple of runs to figure out what he was doing. We put the blinkers on and it really sharpened him up.
"He didn't have it that easy there. He got bumped around a little bit but he's rounded it off really well."
Ownership: "Neil Young, he requested us to buy a horse for him for a syndicate. It was a late purchase. It skipped Anthony's mind a little bit and he had a chat with Michael who was at the sale at the time, and he put a few together on a shortlist and he came up.
"Out of a Galileo mare who has produced good horses. It was really a no-brainer. The stallion is doing an amazing job. Wish there were more on the ground, we'd like more in the stable.
"Credit to the owners. They had some big offers from Hong Kong for him and they turned them down. Now they've got a stakes winner."
Delphi & Homesman, track: "Not too sure. My personal opinion is that it looks a bit softer than what they're saying. Looks like they're kicking it up a little bit. Unsure with Delphi. Homesman is probably better on top of the ground. We'll find out soon."
Winning Jockey: Damien Thornton
"He was really good. He's improved every time I've ridden him.
"He quickened good at Sandown and even better today. I thought I was spotting the leaders a fair margin at the 500 (metre mark) and Froggy (Newitt on Mister Me) took me nowhere so I had to start to get on my bike then.
"Building to the corner nice but they were getting wayward in front of me a bit further out. He quickened really well and got to the front a fair way out and just stargazed.
"He was waiting for them and I couldn't hear them coming either. It was lucky he held on.
"He is doing a terrific job. That's five runs deep (into the prep). As far as I know he's got one more run to tick off. I said to Sam and Brad that he's going to be a nice horse."
The track: "I thought the were a bit premature with the upgrade. To me it feels heavy still. An '8', no worse, but it is quite wet and they are cutting into it. I think it will race as a genuine wet track."