3 minute read
Trainer and jockey quotes after Pennyweka takes out the Group 1 The Star Australian Oaks at Randwick on Saturday.
Race Result:
1st: Pennyweka (J Wallace/D Lanex) - $4.80EF
2nd: So Dazzling (J Sargent/J Moreira) - $20
3rd: Premise (J O'Shea/T Marquand) - $17
Winning Time: 2:33.97 Last 600m: 37.76
Margins: 1¾L x 3L
The kiwi filly Pennyweka becomes a dual Oaks winner, taking out the Group 1 Australian Oaks! @LaneDamian wins back to back editions of the race. pic.twitter.com/RDXMPIC57m
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 8, 2023
Winning Trainer: Jim Wallace
On not going for a spell after winning the NZ Oaks: "She told me, I was convinced that after the Oaks she'd be ready for it. She came out on the Monday, trotted up and the girl who rides her all the time said to me, 'she feels better today than she did on Friday'."
"She carried on that week and did nothing wrong so we thought, 'oh well, we'll roll the dice' and here we are.
"First time away from home and she travelled like an old toff.
On current crop of NZ 3YOs: "They're pretty good."
On the ownership group: "There's 70 of them. My sister-in-law and my brother run a little syndication company. "
"There are 70 in it and 40 of them are here today having the time of their lives.
"A lot of them have only got one per cent, two per cent but they can walk into the pub on a Saturday night and say 'my horse won the Oaks' which is great.
On recent family tragedies: "We've had a tough run."
On the run: "We talked about it before with Damian (Lane) and I said as long as you've got a back to follow, she'll be right, I think she'll stay the trip."
On future plans: "She will go to the paddock now for six weeks and then we'll think about it after that."
Winning Jockey: Damien Lane
On the training performance and run: "Well done to Mr Wallce (trainer Jim) she was exceptional. Obviously well prepared, she's been going great over the ditch (in New Zealand). I was the only horse travelling on the corner and we put them to the sword in the straight."
On his association with fillies: "I always like to think I have a good affinity with the fillies. Just being on the right horses at the right time."
On the training effort and her toughness: "So tough. When I was doing her form, she started racing in September. Had a short six week let-up through December and she's raced all the way since January. For Jim (Wallace) to have her up that long it was a great effort. To be able to sustain her condition all the way through, this far into her prep.
On not being the most impressive type: "I've ridden enough New Zealand horses and had enough success on them to know that what you see is not always what you get. What she is is just tough, big heart. Heart bigger than herself.
Beaten Jockeys:
James McDonald (Pavitra): "She gave me a beautiful ride. Ran well in front but didn't go in the ground."
Tyler Schiller (Fireburn): "She is a terrific filly. Got shuffled back at a vital stage."
Brett Prebble (Polygon): "She struggled from the barrier. Don't know if it was the ground or what."
Hugh Bowman (Arts): "She might have backed up. There was still credit in the run."
Sam Clipperton (Pierossa): "Something is obviously a miss with her."
Tim Clark (Soul Choice): "Probably come to the end of the prep. Had a long prep and did a good job."
Joao Moreira (So Dazzling): "She went fantastic. Hit the line strongly."
Kerrin McEvoy (Byron Belle): "Got into a nice trailing position, travelled well but at the half mile she did not like that ground."
Tom Marquand (Premise): "She has run super. Was out on her legs the last 100m."
John Allen (Mountain Guest): "The run last week might have just flattened her. Never comfortable."
Brenton Avdulla (Frankie's Me Dad): "She tried hard. Ran a really good race. Just struggled in that company."
Tom Sherry (Jolted): "Beaten by the barrier. She was gone a long way from home. Faced the breeze three wide."
Robbie Dolan (Stormy Witness): "Hated the soft track. Never really travelled."
Reece Jones (Fay's Angels): "Turning into a nice little stayer. From the bad draw had to go back. Had a lovely run through. Kicked well."
