3 minute read
Trainer and jockey quotes after the Group 1 Queensland Oaks at Eagle Farm on Saturday taken out by Gypsy Goddess.
Race Result:
1st: Gypsy Goddess (David Vandyke/William Pike)
2nd: Barb Raider (Jerome Hunter/Craig Williams)
3rd: Le Villi (Kris Lees/Tim Clark)
Margins: 1L x ½L
GYPSY GODDESS ROUNDS THEM UP AND SALUTES IN THE QUEENSLAND OAKS!
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 4, 2022
David Vandyke and Willie Pike get the Group 1 glory. pic.twitter.com/VgnUEyarvY
Winning Trainer: David Vandyke
On the horse: "That was just amazing. The love and care that has gone into her over the last seven-and-a-half months, since she won her maiden, to keep her up. Emma, the staff, the vet, the farrier. It's just been an amazing period of time where we were just focussed on getting this girl to the best possible place, and to finish that with a Group 1 is a career highlight."
What did you have to do?: "She's had a hard journey. She's raced up here (Queensland), she went down (to Sydney) on the heavy tracks, came back up. I said to the boys a couple of weeks ago, 'if it was any other horse, we'd probably turn her out'. But, we just gave her every chance to get here. She bounced back well this last week. Willie (William Pike) probably wished he waited another furlong, she just rounded them up and went to the front, I thought he might've gone too soon. "
He (William Pike) couldn't wait any longer: "He (Pike) just had a lapful of horse and doesn't she love Eagle Farm? I mean, (the) job's done, she's won her Group 1, she would never have to race again. She's done a fantastic job, a great group of patient owners. Bob Jones, he's been with me for many, many years, he's been a great client. To win a Group 1 for him, it's just still sinking in."
Is this your career highlight?: "This is my career highlight with this girl. Seven and-a-half months ago she won her maiden, which I didn't even think she could do. Now, it's been a journey, such an arduous time, and to see her wrap up a field of quality fillies like that, at Group 1 level in our home state, that'll do me.
Winning Jockey: William Pike
"I guess barriers aren't too big of an issue when you have a horse with gears like her.
"She had a bit on this field today. I rode her accordingly but I still got there a bit early. That was 'Plan B' for sure.
On winning a Group 1 since moving east: "I've had a few Group 1's, I've been lucky, but this one goes right up there because of the significance of the move that I made (east) and everything surrounding it. Just being here. I really appreciate it.
New South Wales or Queensland?: "Right now I'm a Queenslander. I've had fantastic support, to tell you the truth in all areas coming over here. She was one of the first horses I was committed to since moving over. The owners are really good, they chased after me and wanted me. It's very easy to commit when they're five-from-five.
Beaten Jockeys
Craig Williams (Barb Raider): "So proud of her performance yet again. Her trainer, Jerome Hunter, has done a brilliant job with her. I think we're going to look back on it and these distances - even last start when she won at 2100 - is a bonus. It just shows her ability against her own sex and her own age at this time, but I think it was so brilliant that we might find in the future that she'll be targetted at the good mile races."
Daniel Moor (Glint Of Hope): "She was pretty brave. She was a little slow out and copped a prat at the start. Ended up having to have a good resting run from there. It was hustle and bustle the whole race and she copped a lot of bumping. She's not big enough to absorb that."
Mark Zahra (Biscayne Bay): "Change of tactics. Wanted to go forward today and she was a beaten horse a long way out."
Hugh Bowman (Honeycreeper): "I would've liked for her to have settled a bit better in that frantic speed. But in saying that, she ran an honest race."
Robbie Dolan (Gin Martini): "She was brave in defeat. She got caught three-wide the trip and still started to loom into it like she was going to run a good race but she got tired in the last furlong."
Ben Thompson (Festival Dancer): "Found a great spot. The better tempo today suited her compared to The Roses last week. But an interrupted prep and a week back-up probably outdid her today."
James Mcdonald (Dynasties): "Ithought she ran really well. She probably struggles at the 2200m. Next prep she'll be great trained as a miler. She'll be very effective."
Samantha Collett (Verona): "Just was set a wee bit of an impossible task from the barrier draw. Obviously had the eventual winner in front of me but she wasn't able to stick with it."
Ryan Maloney (Belle Savoir): "She ran really well. Obviously just the back-up and the barrier played a part in her performance. I felt that if she'd drawn the inside and got a softer run, she wouldn't fought out the finish."
Brett Prebble (Aravene): "A touch disappointing. Just too big a class rise for her."
Tommy Berry (Smirk): "Great run. Better barrier, better result. But she was very honest and she'll be better next season."
Kerrin Mcevoy (Teranga): "She just didn't enjoy the first track today. She'll be right next prep."
Tim Clark (Le Villi): "She toughed out out really well. Had a dream run, presented to win and she was very brave all the way to the line."
James Orman (Rosie Impact): "I thought she ran really well. Just would have liked a bit more room to move from the 700, but we if got clear running on straightening we could have built into it a bit quicker bit still a game effort to run eight or ninth. Happy."
Craig Grylls (Nom De Plume): "Got a good run. Sat about three-back on the fence. Probably the half-mile coming off the bridle. She's had a long prep and she was feeling it a bit. She was here to have a go."
Jim Byrne (Cupid's Kiss): "Probably a little bit out of its depth. But you have to have a throw at the stumps and I think she'll be better later on."
Nash Rawiller (Nyota): "She was a little bit keen in front today. She's promising filly but it all came a bit too soon."
