3 minute read
Trainer and jockey quotes following the Listed Queensland Day Stakes won by Athelric at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Race Result:
1st: Athelric (James Cummings/Hugh Bowman)
2nd: Arentee (Chris Meagher/Kerrin McEvoy)
3rd: Ingratiating (James Cummings/Nash Rawiller)
Winning Time: 1:10/76 Last 600m: 35.29
Margins: Long Head x 1½L
Athelric wins his fourth start on the trot, sealing the day at @BrisRacingClub. @HugeBowman @JamesCummings88 pic.twitter.com/nyY5NufrBO
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 4, 2022
Winning Trainer: James Cummings
"Great credit to Athelric. He put himself into the race over the 1200 metres considering the work he did early.
"The other colt ran beautifully. He made up a lot of ground in the straight. We have been thinking for a while that maybe he is looking for seven (furlongs) and if that is the case then it certainly opens up lots of opportunities for him but he was great running to the line and having so many weeks off between runs, the run to finish off so strongly and run third was full of merit."
Athetric: "Both of our three-year-olds in this race have been absolutely flying and just the way the race shaped up in the end it was advantage to Athelric. He used that gate speed and used that early tactical pace that he's got.
"He's a very progressive three-year-old since we gelded him. He's been absolutely flying in Sydney.
"Not many horses can win three-straight in Sydney and it takes a stakes horse to do that. We identified this race as one that would suit him and he's delivered. He's got up and run a solid six furlongs.
Next: "I will keep my options open with Athelric. Maybe I'll freshen him up and run him one more time over 1100 metres. But he's going to be a beautiful four-year-old sprinter. A progressive horse. Four-in-a-row is pretty special and to be culminating in a stakes race this prep.
"Ingratiating is in the noms for the Stradbroke. If he was to back up like he has before in the Blue Diamond into the Golden Slipper and run a big race in the Stradbroke next week with 51.5 kilos on his back where he sits in the order of entry."
How many for Cummings in the Stradbroke: "Could be as many as three, maybe only one."
Kemetari earlier: "He ran beautifully. He was three-wide and he had some cover there throughout. He ran to the line strongly. Sincero ran third in the Moreton Cup to win the Stradbroke on the seven day back-up a few years ago, but that is a thought for during the week.
"We've got Vilana in the race having won the Fred Best Classic and if we back up Ingratiating then we'll have two colts with chances."
Winning Jockey: Hugh Bowman
"It has been delightful coming up here and riding on firm ground. Athelric was really dominant winning at Scone recently and showed a lot of courage that day.
"It was an awkward draw for us that day, but his speed overcame that and he traveled superbly for me outside the leader.
"When asked to go on to win the race, I thought I had it in my keeping but I could feel Kerrin coming at me and I thought it was going to be a real tussle late.
"But Athelric felt the presence of the other horse and really lifted himself and made me look good.
"He's an improving horse. He's lightly raced and he's got a beautiful temperament. He's been beautifully managed and it is all up from here for him."
