3 minute read
Race Result:
1st: Veight (T&C McEvoy/D Lane) - $8
2nd: Lady Laguna (A Neasham/T Schiller) - $8
3rd: Militarize (C Waller/J McDonald) - $4.80
Winning Time: 1:xx.xx Last 600m: 3x.xx
Margins: Short Head x 1L
Veight went vroom and wins the G1 George Ryder Stakes for @mcevoymitchell and @LaneDamian!@aus_turf_club pic.twitter.com/opjOjrHvkO
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 23, 2024
Winning Trainer: Tony & Calvin McEvoy (Tony interviewed)
On getting a Group 1 win: "What a star. His racing style helps a lot. He begins well and Damian (Lane) has got so much confidence in him.
"He put him into the race and then he comes back and relaxes. He counted to 10, and it was so deserved.
"I'm so proud of the horse. And all my team, fabulous.
"For Wayne Mitchell, who's been my biggest supporter, he owns most of this horse and I'm so pleased to win one of these for him.
To win on Golden Slipper day with Calvin: "To have three runners on Slipper day, this is why we do it. Not everyone gets an opportunity to do this and we're just so blessed and proud of what we're doing, and enjoying winning.
1500m perfect for him: "Perfect for him. I think there's a $10 million one (1500m race) here in the spring." (Golden Eagle).
On his campaign: "He had been running so well at this level and the mile has just been seeing him out.
"The 1500m today was perfect and Damian was superb on him. We didn't need it to be 1501m, but I'm so proud of the horse and so pleased for the horse.
"I think he had a profile before today that he was an elite level horse and now he's got one on his resume."
Pierro, Weekend Hussler, Haradasun, Racing To Win the last 3yos to win the Ryder: "He's a very good horse and has always been a good horse all the way through for us and these are hard to win, these races. His racing style and his manners go a long way and I'm very, very happy that he's finally won one (G1)."
Job done for the preparation? "I think so. The only probably race left is the All Aged but he's had a big campaign. We've had a couple of Grand Finals this campaign already. I think it's probably enough now but we'll enjoy the moment and make those decisions tomorrow."
Winning Jockey: Damian Lane
On the horse: "He's never put in a poor performance in his career. He's just a tough, honest horse. He jumps well, he gives himself the best chance and he's just so genuine. When you really ask him to dig deep he does."
On running in the Ryder: "I was a little bit apprehensive taking on this race, so credit must go to Toy and Calvin for having the kahunas to have a go.
"That's why they've trained the amount of winners they have.
"He gets the all-important Group 1, he's a colt, so he secures his future as a stallion and he's just a great horse to be involved with."
On how the race unfolded: "It was perfect. Trying to do a speed map for an 18-horse field, I was just confusing myself looking at it before the race, so I just thought I'd be positive early."
"He's got a great attribute where he can begin and show some speed then switch off and still show the finish at the end.
"When Think About It came across it was just perfect, he was going to get a great trail.
"When I turned for home and I felt I had him covered I thought, 'I'm going to go very close to winning here'."
Beaten Jockeys:
Sam Clipperton (Think About It): "I thought he ran really well. The wide draw made it difficult. I just needed to be in a spot straight away rather than continuing to flow up outside the leader. But he stuck to his task. Was only run down the last 100m."
Adam Hyeronimus (Cepheus): "He was alright."
Hugh Bowman (Pericles): "He found the pace a bit frantic. He did hit the line very well."
Nash Rawiller (Kovalica): "He is a beautiful horse. We were forced to get right out of our ground today. He felt like he gave me a great feel over the last 100m suggesting that even another 100m he is right in the finish. Definitely watch him in the Doncaster and look I think he is a horse that can press onto the Queen Elizabeth."
Tommy Berry (Golden Mile): "Nice to see him back running well."
Kerrin McEvoy (Navajo Peak): "He has actually stayed on well. We were caught without any cover and he was a little bit outpaced but his last furlong was good. A bit further suits him."
Tom Sherry (Unspoken): "He was OK. Just feel as though he is looking for a bit further now."
Jordan Childs (Bandersnatch): "He is going as well as he can."
Dylan Gibbons (Loch Eagle): "I was disappointed but the last furlong he was still going OK. Not sure."
Tom Marquand (Mighty Ulysses): "Just got run up the fence a couple of times. It got a bit tight. Might take a bit of geting used to Australian style of racing for him."
Jason Collett (New Energy): "Great late. Just got a long way back."
Mark Zahra (Amenable): "He was plain today."
Jamie Kah (Cosmic Vega): "He is a nice horse. He did everything wrong today. There is a nice race in him."
Tyler Schiller (Lady Laguna): "She has probably cemented herself as a G1 horse now. She has won one and run a close second. She has a terrific turn of foot. She has shown she can run a 1500m. I don't know if it was as strong as her 1300m but I think 1400m might be her pet distance. Hopefully the All Aged is her race."
James McDonald (Militarize): "Good solid run."
Blake Shinn (Encap): "He ran well. I just needed him to be a bit more active from the gates to take up a bit closer spot but he ran 6th and acquitted himself well. Did a good job."
Zac Lloyd (Tiz Invincible): "Really good run. Positive going forward how well she relaxed out the back. Did her best work late."
