3 minute read
Trainer and jockey quotes after Queen Of The Ball claims the Group 3 Furphy Sprint at Flemington on Saturday.
Race Result:
1st: Queen Of The Ball (Damien Oliver/Michael Freedman) - $7.50
2nd: Hypothetical (Jamie Kah/A & S Freedman) - $10
3rd: Dancing Alone (Billy Egan/Bryce Heys) - $4.40
Winning Time: 1:02.97 Last 600m: N/A
Margins: 1L x 1¾L
Winning Trainer: Michael Freedman
"I was just saying to (managing owner) Sir Owen Glenn after that race that I think it was the first time I've seen her being ridden with some cover.
"He (Damien) said he wanted to do that because there's a bit of a headwind and he just got into the perfect spot and I was rapt to see when he got to the outside how quickly she let down. She's a good quality mare."
"It's a huge buzz, we've got a lot of history, our family and Damien go back 35, nearly 40 years so being his last Derby Day and one of my first runner on Derby Day, it's a great thrill."
"It's been a little bit frustrating, I think her form has been a little bit better than it looks on paper her last three starts, she just got pipped first up in the Toy Show at Randwick, the Sheraco was a bit of a mad scramble and the last race was a bit messy. I always felt she was going as well as she was ever going and when we saw this race down here we pulled the pin on the back end of the Sydney carnival and just targeted this race."
First winner for Michael: "He'll be getting the sack after today!"
Next: "I thought if she could we win this we might hang around for the How Now Stakes (at Caulfield). As long as she pulls up ok we'll keep her going for one more."
Winning Jockey: Damien Oliver
"I kind of thought if I could (take a sit) there was good speed around her to do it, she ran a great race here last year in the Coolmore and back to fillies and mares grade today, she's always been a really speedy sort of filly and mare and with good speed in the race I was able to get a nice trail.
"She's a gutsy fast filly and fortunately she was able to use that at the end of her race.
"I'd done nothing for the first half of the race so I thought I've got plenty to give and from where I was I was a bit obscured by what was going on the inside so I didn't want to be too cute.
Long association: "It's great-to-back in time and ride one for the Freedmans, we go back a long way, both Michael and Richard have been really supportive of us this week and it's great to team up with them again.
"Michael and I were flatmates for many years right behind this grandstand so a lot of fun days back in our teenage years and early 20's.
"It is great to team up with them (Freedmans) on my last lap, so to speak."