3 minute read
Trainer and jockey quotes following the Group 2 Sky Racing Q22 won by Numerian at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Race Result:
1st: Numerian (T Berry/A Neasham) - $21
2nd: Kolding (W Pike/C Waller) - $18
3rd: Yonkers (C Williams/C Waller) - $21
Winning Time: 2:16.98 Last 600m: NA
Margins: 1 Length x ¾ Length
Numerian found the front early and couldn't be caught!
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 11, 2022
@ANeashamRacing wins both editions of the Q22.
@TommyBerry21 @BrisRacingClub pic.twitter.com/JO1Oxxef48
Winning Trainer: Annabel Neasham
On the path to the Q22: "We nearly came via the Doomben Cup but I spoke to Richard Ryan, who very kindly sent me the horse on behalf of Teme Valley. He does a great job and obviously I was very excited when he sent him over here.
"The whole idea was to try and chase the good prizemoney and the good racing that we've got here.
"We hadn't raced him sparingly at the start of the prep, so we decided to keep his legs fresh for this and I actually rang Richard earlier in the week and said how do you think he'll go on the good track because he's got good form on a Good track the couple of times he's tried it.
"He said, 'he'll go well but I'm unsure if it's going to be firm'. I said, 'it's going to be firm here compared to what he's seen in Ireland', but he relished it.
"It was a superb ride by Tommy. He took the race by the scruff of the neck."
On his time in Australia: "He actually had one start last prep and I was quite confident going into the Epsom with him and he got kicked at trackwork that week, so that's why we only saw him once then.
"He's run well every time this preparation and he's just kept on improving. I think we can probably set our sights on something nice in the spring now.
"I'll obviously talk to the connections and we'll work out where we go with him now, but I think after the performance he put in here today he deserves to be set for something nice now."
Winning Jockey: Tommy Berry
On the pre-race plan: "Our plan was to dictate the race and there didn't look a lot of speed in it. We were able to do that, he got into a lovely rhythm for me and just at the 700 I picked it up a bit and from the 600 I really put the foot to the floor and got him into his work.
"He was always going to be hard to run down. He probably didn't get the credit he deserved going into the race."
On getting the ride: "I was meant to ride him at Wagga that day and Annabel decided to go to Gosford, so Sam Clipperon won on him there. Full credit to Annabel, she stuck solid and put me back on when she could have easily put Sam on him after winning.
On his connection with the horse: "I get along with him really well. He does himself all the favours in the world. It was a great training effort, it's been a little while in between runs, but we're used to getting that from Annabel. It was good."
On his spring prospects: "He's won on soft ground, heavy ground and we've found the right trip for him. He ticks a lot of boxes so I'm sure we'll have a lot of fun with him."
