3 minute read
Trainer and jockey quotes after Red Card takes out the Group 3 City Tattersalls Group Maurice McCarten Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday.
Race Result:
1st: Red Card (J Cummings/A Hyeronimus) - $3.20F
2nd: Libertad (A Neasham/K McEvoy) - $21
3rd: Airman (M, W & J Hawkes/J McDonald) - $5
Winning Time: 1:03.89 Last 600m: 33.97
Margins: ¾L x Long Neck
An all-the-way win for Red Card in the G3 Maurice McCarten Stakes at Rosehill!@aus_turf_club @JamesCummings88 @godolphin pic.twitter.com/STqMOu3IFp
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 16, 2024
Winning Trainer: James Cummings
On settling better in her races: "She has been able to do that this preparation (settle) because the staff have put a lot of work into her. I was very close to scratching the horse and I had a pretty strong preference to run this horse next week (in The Galaxy)."
"But you listen to your team and my assistant trainer at the farm was bullish about running today, (form expert) Dominic (Beirne) was quick to remind me that she wouldn't be that well handicapped next week.
"She still had to go up five pounds for the win three weeks ago, but nevertheless, she keeps picking up and doing well and relaxing at the right time.
"She has got to be a mare, not only in form, but on the rise. She is elevating."
Plans for the mare: "I love the fact I've got four weeks to the Sapphire (Stakes). It's set weights and penalties and she will be beautifully weighted there and should be a legitimate contender for us during the carnival, provided we don't have a last-minute thought to throw her into the 'noms' for The Galaxy.
"But I think the Sapphire is the right race for her.
"It's one of the beauties of having a horse going places, you've got champagne problems."
Winning Jockey: Adam Hyeronimus
On settling well over the 1100m: "That's the gate speed. She's got brilliant gate speed so I jumped a length in front and then it was just up to me to control the race. And I dead-set controlled it after two strides."
"Obviously we had that pressure come around but that was to be expected, I wasn't going very quickly for an 1100-metre race, but the way she handled it was very good. She travelled into the straight and gave a good kick.
"James (Cummings) obviously needs no pumping up but I trialled her during the week and she needed the trial. So it's been a well-executed plan and she's got a Group Three. So, perfect."
Has still got upside?: "Definitely. She can keep settling and obviously going up in grade she's going to get more pressure than what she did today but the way she handled that mid-race pressure, which was to be expected from the slow speed, it didn't seem to bother her.
"She's taking the right steps."
Beaten Jockeys:
James McDonald (Airman): "Good first up run. He will improve a lot."
Tommy Berry (Hard To Say): "Considering the early work he had to do, he was tough late."
Tim Clark (Omni Man): "He ran consistent to his form. He is going well."
Jason Collett (Quick Tempo): "Ran home well. Just too much of a start from that barrier."
Tom Sherry (Meritable): "Just struggled in that grade."
Michael Dee (Dashing Legend): "Disappointing. Not sure what to make of the run. See if anything comes of it"
Kerrin McEvoy (Libertad): "Much better run. Good to see him bounce back. He was wide no cover but he applied himself well. Was closest on the line."
Tyler Schiller (Rich Fortune): "I thought she was good late. Just probably had to spot them too much."
