3 minute read

Trainer and jockey quotes following the Group 1 Sky Racing Rosehill Guineas won by Riff Rocket at Rosehill on Saturday.

Race Result:

1st: Riff Rocket (C Waller/N Rawiller) - $2.70F
2nd: Ceolwulf (J Pride/B Shinn) - $15
3rd: Cap Ferrat (C Waller/R Moore) - $18

Winning Time: 2:03.03 Last 600m: 34.35

Margins: ¾L x Neck

Riff Rocket lives up to his name and wins the G1 Sky Racing Rosehill Guineas in a thriller, giving @cwallerracing his 159th G1 win, and @nashhot his 70th!@aus_turf_club pic.twitter.com/dm9ZE9ZubN

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 23, 2024

Winning Trainer: Chris Waller

On the horse and the win: "He's a Derby winner and he's a Rosehill Guineas winner, he's showed touches of brilliance in between as well, so that was a pretty satisfying win today for the team.

On the run: "The draw was tricky, he had to come from a long way back, but Nash knew what he had under him and he backed him for a solid finish and that's what he produced."

On training for the Ingham family: "The Inghams are great to train for, it's as simple as that.

"Debbie branched off on her own, with her family, and it really is special.

"They're proud people as the whole family is and it's a privilege to train for them."

Future plans: "I always thought about the Australian Cup but I didn't realise it was next week.

"I'm not sure. He only just won the Victoria Derby (over) 2500 metres, our Derby is 2400, so I guess it's going to be hard not to (run) but we'll just see what Nash says."

Winning Jockey: Nash Rawiller

On winning the race: "To be honest, I feel like it was a bit of a present from the great man Chris Waller because I knew he was a pretty special horse but I didn't realise how good he was until before the race when he told me.

"He's done a wonderful job here today, the horse. He probably stole one last year and he's repaid me this year."

On the horse: "It takes him a while to build and find it, but when we got to the furlong there he surprised me how well he lengthened again and that's what those good stayers do.

On the run: 'I was probably three lengths further back than I wanted to be, which is probably where I've been the last two weeks, but the horse was able to keep balanced and he built into the race.

"I just used the horse to come into the race a little bit and to be fair he's done the rest himself. It was just a great effort."

Beaten Jockeys:

Tom Marquand (Cafe Millenium): "Found a nice place but raced up after a furlong. Once he got his gas up it was a bit of a battle."

Hugh Bowman (Tom Kitten): "We had a beautiful run. Travelled very well. Sprinted through like I was going to figure but it was a short sprint and he kept building to the line. Further won't hurt."

Mark Zahra (King Colorado): "Just a fair run. Didn't go great, didn't go bad."

Tim Clark (Ganbare): "Another improved performance. He's racing really well. Heading in the right direction."

Luke Currie (Immediacy): "Good effort. He had to push forward from wide and he pulled a little bit. Still good effort."

Ryan Moore (Cap Ferrat): "Good run. Happy."

Blake Shinn (Ceolwulf): "Super run. Got into a nice spot. A bit flat footed when the sprint went on. He closed off really well. Riff Rocket is a great 3yo but my horse ran bravely."

Tyler Schiller (Ducasse): "I think he's racing really well. He put himself in a good spot today. He just wanted to hang out a little bit coming up the rise. I thought his last bit he got going again when he got a check at the 300m and took his momentum. I thought he was good late."

Chad Schofield (Cosmic Lad): "He's done it all in one prep, one campaign. So I think he can have a break now. He might come back a decent horse."

Reece Jones (Steel Blaze): "Whacked away. Obviously stiffer competition than he's been up against before but he's still learning his craft and wants a bit of time."