3 minute read
Trainer and jockey quotes following the Ascend Sales Trophies Handicap won by Strawberry Rock at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
Race Result:
1st: Strawberry Rock (B Melham/C Maher) - $4.20F
2nd: Jennivamoose (D Bates/A Noblet) - $8.50
3rd: Haaland (T Nugent/R Hickmott) - $8.50
Winning Time: 2:38.06 Last 600m: N/A
Margins: Short Head x ½ Neck
A juicy win for Strawberry Rock
— Racing.com (@Racing) March 23, 2024
He lifts late & scores for @cmaherracing & @BMelham pic.twitter.com/nEQPKucmTf
Winning Trainer: Ciaron Maher (rep by Jack Turnbull)
"We were pretty confident. He ran a good race a few starts back at a big price when he ran third. We were either going to go to the 2000-metres or the 2500. The team in the office were pretty happy to go here with what was in it.
"He carried a bit of weight but he was the best horse."
Progression: "We don't overtrain him. He doesn't do a lot, to be honest. He does a lot out the back in the sand hills but we gallop him sparingly.
"He's come of age even though this was a benchmark race today but we'll continue that path."
Winning Jockey: Ben Melham
"We had a good trip throughout and obviously had a big weight. He's a nice horse and he was probably ready for the trip last start.
"Ciaron just kept him to the 2000-metres one more time and he was bang on today.
"They got a bit itchy down the side but I just didn't want to sustain that long a run with the weight, so I waited and he got over them late.
"I was happy where I was (in the run) and I could have come out but I thought with the weight if I came out early, I'd be suspect late with horses down the bottom with no weight. I thought they might be challenging late."
