3 minute read
Trainer and jockey quotes after the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick on Saturday taken out by Pride Of Jenni.
Race Result:
1st: Pride Of Jenni (C Maher/D Bates) - $7
2nd: Via Sistina (C Waller/J McDonald) - $1.85F
3rd: Mr Brightside (B, W & JD Hayes/C Williams) - $10
Winning Time: 2:02.02 Last 600m: 37.83
Margins: 6½L x 1¾L
“The ride of the century @decbates!”
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 13, 2024
Pride Of Jenni leads by a huge margin and wins the G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes in a bold front running display, in one of the most epic wins at Randwick ever!@aus_turf_club @cmaherracing pic.twitter.com/33Ejus8VL3
Winning Trainer: Ciaron Maher
On the win: "Unbelievable. I've never seen anything like that, ever. Phenomenal.
"To Dec, Tony, Lyn. For Dec to have the 'norrys' to do that. (Leading) by 40! In a group one! And not just any group one.
"I don't think it will get any better than that.
"That is the biggest win I've ever seen, let alone had anything to do with.
On the ride: "I knew she'd get better the more she raced at 2000 (metres). My God, that was mind boggling to know that a horse can do that.
"She ran 11.1, I reckon it was at about the mile.
"I never doubt Dec (and) she must have given him some amazing feel. Full credit to him.
"Incredible."
Winning Jockey: Declan Bates
How it felt to be that far in front: "Not good, to be honest. That was all her today. Over the last six months, the times I've ridden her we had a nice rhythm with each other and when I'd ask her to come back she'd come back a bit.
"Today, when the horse on the outside came to her, she grabbed the bit and she didn't drop it at any point.
"I was actually concerned that we were doing a bit too much. To be honest, until we hit that line I wasn't happy at all today until it was done.
"I couldn't tell you what the sectionals were. Generally once we're doing it nice and smoothly, I'm aware. Today, just knew we were going quicker than I wanted to so it was a matter of coming back, coming back, and she said 'nah I'm going'. She knows better.
"It is amazing. Tony Ottobre has changed my life putting me on these horses. Just to be a part of this, you know, it is something special. It really is.
"I knew when I got out today she had a spring in her step and I was concerned that she was getting to the end of her prep.
"You can usually hear them coming and I was tempted to have a look back but I kept my eyes on the post."
Beaten Jockeys:
Craig Williams (Mr Brightside): "I was so pleased with his performance. I love the way he felt and most importantly the way he recovered and came back after the race. Take nothing away from Pride Of Jenni. She is phenomenal. My horse turned the table on Cascadian so it showed you that my horse was better than the Australian Cup."
Ben Melham (Cascadian): "Dunno what to say really. The race was over after three furlongs. Second and third horses should have tacked up. It was always going to win with a scenario like that."
Blake Shinn (Buckaroo): "He didn't jump the best. Liked to have been forward. When he didn't jump it put him out of the race. Winner dominated."
Nash Rawiller (Kovalica): "He's run a great race. I think I really love this horse. Just didn't work out too well for us today."
Josh Parr (Zeyrek): "He reached his top speed a long way from home and it's not to his liking."
James McDonald (Via Sistina): "Embarassing."
Tommy Berry (Place Du Carrousel): "Just not the same horse today."
Tom Marquand (Ceolwulf): "At halfway it was open what was happening. I was locked up on fence. I was happy with the complexion of the race. A tough run for him."
