3 minute read
Trainer and jockey quotes following the Group 1 Coolmore Classic won by Zougotcha at Rosehill on Saturday.
Race Result:
1st: Zougotcha (C Waller/J McDonald) - $3.30F
2nd: Semana (C Maher/D Gibbons) - $12
3rd: Kimochi (G Portelli/Z Lloyd) - $11
Winning Time: 1:29.12 Last 600m: 34.79
Margins: Short Neck x ½Head
Got ‘em!
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 16, 2024
Zougotcha wins in a thrilling finish to the G1 Coolmore Classic at Rosehill - and that’s 90 G1 wins @mcacajamez! @aus_turf_club @cwallerracing pic.twitter.com/OXXDlDZpNW
Winning Trainer: Chris Waller
On the performance of Zougotcha: "It was good. Very rewarding, simple as that."
On last preparation: "We tried to make her sprint and she just wasn't quite that type of model. But put her in a few extra hundred metres and that's the difference.
"She was brilliant first-up and she carried the top weight in a good field today and beat them."
Plans for rest of Autumn: "She would probably progress to a Doncaster. If she gets too much weight via a re-handicap we'd go to the fillies and mares race (Queen Of The Turf Stakes) on the last day (of The Championships) which would be easier than a Doncaster."
Winning Jockey: James McDonald
On notching his 90th Group One win: "Lucky for those good barriers I keep drawing, hey.
On Zougotcha's win: "Fantastic. It's well documented last preparation didn't go to plan but trained a little bit differently, he (Waller) is a genius, he stretched her work out and kept her a happy horse and she's done the rest.
"That was a good horse's weight. We're talking like Sunlines and those types of horses that have carried obviously a little bit more than her but still a proper horse's weight and she had to lug it out a fair way on testing ground. I couldn't be more proud of her."
On his association with Zougotcha: "I've had no choice really, I've been just stuck with her through ups and downs. But those good fillies, they always tend to turn a corner after they have a lull or they always find a way because they have got a fantastic will to win and they are around a long time, not like the colts.
"But she's special. She's won a Flight Stakes and now a Coolmore. She's a top-class mare."
More on the win: "She had to dig deep. At the furlong I didn't think she could win, I felt I was near empty and credit to her, she pinned her ears back and had a great crack. She's just a top-class mare that's trained to the minute."
Beaten Jockeys:
Michael Dee (Revolutionary Miss): "She jumped really well. Didn't want to be outside leader. She tried hard. Not to be today."
Dylan Gibbons (Semana): "Tremendous effort. I went to get on Kimochi's back but the inside horse clattered into my face. Probably needed that cart up. Has gone down fighting."
Kerrin McEvoy (Vienna Princess): "She ran well. Got shuffled back a little bit. Top of the ground probably suits her better."
Tommy Berry (Hinged): "She has run enormous. Just got barged off the track coming to the corner. Not sure why but it happened. It took her confidence away from her. She was very strong late though."
Tim Clark (Tropical Squall): "Really brave performance from her. A 3yo filly taking on the older mares with a bit of weight. An excellent effort."
Tom Sherry (Deny Knowledge): "Landed in a good position. Failed to quicken on that ground. Wasn't overly comfortable."
Billy Egan (Foxy Frida): "She didn't disgrace herself. This company just needs to draw low and have a softer run."
Jason Collett (Madame Pommery): "The gate made it difficult."
Rachel King (Renaissance Woman): "She has run a super race. Didn't go nearly as quickly as I thought they might. She has sprinted home really well."
John Allen (Yonce): "She ran OK. Hoping to step a little better and more forward. A couple a little more sharp for her."
Matthew Cartwright (Barbie's Fox): "Disappointing. The horse is better than that. Did make a bit of a noise pulling up. A tongue tie may help. Race wasn't run to suit."
Tyler Schiller (Hell Hath No Fury): "I thought she was very honest. Probably stepping up to the top of her grade today. She has earned herself a break and will come back better."
Jay Ford (More Secrets): "Track wasn't too her liking."
Craig Newitt (Jennilala): "She ran well. She wasn't beaten far. Just think these sort of races might be six months too advanced for her. She will have her day."
Zac Lloyd (Kimochi): "Extremely frustrating. If she draws a barrier she wins simple as that. She's a very good filly. Had to do it the hard way. Just annoying to get a barrier like that on a big day."
Reece Jones (Barby's Doll): "Obviously the toughest performance yet but she didn't disgrace herself."
