3 minute read

Trainer and jockey quotes after the Mahogany Challenge Handicap at Flemington on Saturday won by Alverdun.

Race Result:

1st: Alverdun (Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young/Ethan Brown) - $20
2nd: Country's Light (Tetyana Furdetska/Jacob Opperman) - $101
3rd: Maatsuyker (Tom Dabernig/Harry Grace) - $21

Winning Time: 2:04.63 Last 600m: n/a

Margins: 3/4L x Long-Head

Alverdun goes back-to-back & scores at HQ! @FlemingtonVRC @FirstLight_FLR @busuttin @Brown_ethan8

— Racing.com (@Racing) June 4, 2022

Winning Trainer: Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young (Sam Griggs speaking)

Happy owners: "First Light and their team, it's a fantastic result for them and reward for the horse. He's been really consistent throughout the prep. He was given a gun ride and got the result"

First try beyond 1600m: "He's always given the impression he will be a 2000-metre horse. It was a matter of getting him there. He's got quite a short, sharp turn of foot which he used very well there from the 600. Ethan was just looking around and when the gaps came, he's given it a 10 out of 10."

What's it like watching with excited owners: "If it loses, you can blame the jockey. He gave him a gun ride from the gate and as soon as the gap came, he presented and took it well. He was tough over the last 100 metres. We thought he could be vulnerable first time at 2000 metres, but it was a good strong win."

Winning Jockey: Ethan Brown

Looked to bolting through the run: "He was on the ball from the get-go. He jumped quite well and put himself into a spot. He travelled strong without overdoing it throughout. Coming into the straight he really toed up and he quickened down well at the end of 2000."

Race in keeping: "I was cluttered up there for a bit but once that horse dropped off outside us I was confident we'd get out and he'd give the race a shake. To his credit he really lengthened through the line."

Still more to come: "He got in well at the weights today. The stable has an opinion of him and I think keep being placed in these three-year-old races he can be competitive."