3 minute read
Trainer and jockey quotes after Mr Maestro claims the Group 3 Neds Classic at Caulfield on Saturday.
Race Result:
1st: Mr Maestro (Andrew Forsman/Harry Coffey) - $1.70F
2nd: Muramasa (Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young/Daniel Moor) - $6.50
3rd: Distrustful Award (Paul Preusker/Dean Yendall) - $15
Winning Time: 2:06.89 Last 600m: N/A
Margins: Short Head x 2L
Winning Trainer: Andrew Forsman
"He made him work. It really didn't pan out as we would have liked. He had to do a bit of work. Harry probably had to get on his bike a furlong earlier than he would have really wanted but it worked out from there."
Coffey got moving between 500 and 600 metre mark: "I was (happy). It wasn't too cute. He leveled up and got the job done."
Lining Mr Maestro up with Lion Tamer (Derby winner): "They are very similar. This guy keeps improving like Lion Tamer did. He was in Sydney early before he went to run in the Derby and he struggled in a couple of runs there then the penny dropped at The Valley that day to win impressively and hopefully this guy can replicate it."
Winning Jockey: Harry Coffey
"He's a pretty good horse. He's trending the right way and he's lovely to ride. We did get ourselves in a tricky spot but when you're on the best horse you can afford to make ground and make moves and that's what he did.
"Wasn't pretty late but he got the job done. He's going to improve off that again and very thankful to the connections for the ride. They're going to have a fun fortnight looking forward to the Derby.
"I was in two minds more early when the gates opened. There was an opportunity to go forward and when Andrew said he didn't want to be the hunted, he'd like to hunt, as it's not his Grand Final day today that when I came (went) back.
"When I made my second move along the side there wasn't really another option. I was going to get outsprinted and there were some handy enough horses in front of me that I was going to set a bit of a task to get to them if I didn't make that move.
"Although we covered ground to get them but he was the best horse and I rode him like that."