3 minute read

Find out what the jockeys made of their mounts after the Group 1 $2,000,000 Schweppes Sydney Cup (2400m) at Royal Randwick.

Andrea Atzeni (Circle Of Fire): "You know when Ciaron Maher gives you a ring you are certain that he has has a good one. Thank you to the Hong Kong Jockey Club for allowing me to be here today. I'm back there tomorrow."

"I didn't like it. The plan was to to get into a nice rhythm with a bit of cover. He raced very keen last time so we wanted to get in behind something. I jumped away nicely.

"Probably better than I thought he woud. We have no plan, really. Wherever he landed I wanted to get cover. I tried early on to get in behind something and I couldn't so I went forward.

"Trying to get in before the bend, that didn't work either. So it was hard work for me. When I turned intot he straight he travelled very strongly. He did it the hard way so I didn't know if he had a lot left in the tank.

"To be fair to the horse, he dug deep when the second horse came to him and the further he went the better he was."

Tyler Schiller (Athabascan): "Great run. Full credit to the winner. I got to him and thought I had him. He was stronger at the end of two miles. Can't knock Athabascan."

Dylan Gibbons (Kalapour): "Another courageous effort. He has taken that step up well. Probably only runs 3000m but he tried that hard he got third."

Adam Hyeronimus (Military Mission): "I thought he went well. He will be better suited going to the Melbourne Spring, racing against better opposition getting down in the weights.'

Tom Marquand (Mahrajaan): "Got position A where we wanted to be, found a good rhythm. We were the first ones to weaken out of the race. He'll be off for a freshen up."

Craig Williams (Ashrun): "We got into a nice economical run from the wide barrier. For most of the race then we had to pick up and go. I thought for the credentialled horse that he is, I thought he was a bit plain on face value. Will be interesting to see how he comes through today's race."

Blake Shinn (Loft): "Had a nice run. He just didn't finish off."

Reece Jones (Stockman): "Had him out of his comfort zone early when he was stuck wide. I think it was better off than sitting with no cover for 3200m."

Tommy Berry (Selino): "I just really needed to get on my bike earlier. That is the sort of horse he is. I wasn't able to do so given the position I was in."

Tim Clark (Serpentine): "Excellent performance. He is racing so well this campaign."

Michael Dee (Amade): "Frustrating. I was hoping he'd jump out well. Obviously missed it by what 10 lengths. After that he has run a great race."

Zac Lloyd (Manzoice): "Quite disappointed there. He was travelling really well the whole race. At the 600m I thought I was going to be in the finish. Ultimately he got beaten 30 lengths. Hope the horse pulls up alright."

Jamie Kah (Glentaneous): "Just pulled way too hard for that sort of trip."

Louis-Philippe Beuzelin (Major Beel): "He was just over-racing a bit too generously throughout. Think 3200m is a bit too far for him. Back to 2000m for him."

Rachel King (Mostly Cloudy): "Super run. Had to go a long way back from the gate. But he definitely stays 32[00]."

Jay Ford (So Dazzling): "She wasn't able to perform on the back up today."