3 minute read
Trainer and jockey quotes after the punters.com.au Handicap at Caulfield on Saturday taken out by Shock 'Em Ova.
Race Result:
1st: Shock 'Em Ova (C Williams/A Rae) - $2fav
2nd: Big Brew (J Childs/L & S Hope) - $8.50
3rd: Polanco (M Lloyd/S Eden) - $10
Winning Time: 1:36,70 Last 600m: N/A
Margins: Neck x Long Neck
"From last to first!"
— Racing.com (@Racing) September 23, 2023
Shock 'Em Ova gives punters heart palpitations in the opening event at Caulfield @AlexRaeRacing @CWilliamsJockey pic.twitter.com/XBDNJIZMws
Winning Trainer: Alex Rae
A nervy watch: "It certainly wasn't. We've p[ut a lot of time and effort into this horse and the key is to get him to switch off and race properly. While it's great to win races along the way, especially a race like today on a Group 1 card, it's pretty important we look at the big picture and I loved the way he dropped him out and rode him quiet. It will hold him in good stead as we step him out in distance."
What is the big picture: "He's still quite lowly rated at the moment, still in the mid-70's after today. We'll just continue to go through the grades and it's important that we don't throw him right into the deep end. He's still working it all out. He's still a bit of a bozo really. He'll hopefully continue winning and he'll toughen up and we'll give him an opportunity to target better races as he gets older and stronger."
Autumn targets: "When you keep winning, it forces your hand. We'll continue to step him up in grade and look for better races. Throughout this spring hopefully we can continue through the grades. There's plenty of good prize money around and hopefully come autumn his rating is up high enough to target something real nice."
Winning Jockey: Craig Williams
Were you cool calm and collected throughout: "I've been on this horses back since the start of the preparation. I did his lead-up work the other day, rode him last preparation and I trust his trainer Alex Rae has a good handle on him. While his attitude is still not perfect, he was much better today and the race mapped to suit him and when the chips were down he got running and I thought he was a lot more effective racehorse today. I was really pleased for him and he'll get a lot more confidence from today's win."
On straightening: "I gave myself some options and because it is Caulfield, it's a bit tight, but I thought Jordan Childs' horse would be a horse that would take my into the race and I was happy to do so and then I realised Mick Kent's horse was three-wide the entire journey and whether it was going to get tired, but a lot of these races at this time of the year are won by the smallest of margins, so I gave myself the option about being economical at the top of the straight but once I didn't I had the horse to get to the outside, balance him up and produce him."
