3 minute read
Trainer and jockey quotes following the Group 1 Grainshaker Vodka Queen Of The Turf won by Zougotcha at Randwick on Saturday.
Race Result:
1st: Zougotcha (C Waller/J McDonald) - $3.50F
2nd: Atishu (C Waller/B Shinn) - $3.70
3rd: Semana (C Maher/D Gibbons) - $14
Winning Time: 1:35.71 Last 600m: 34.29
Margins: Short ½ Head x 1¼L
Who did you think got there?
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 13, 2024
Zougotcha claims to Coolmore - Queen Of The Turf double, defeating stablemate Atishu who was closing the gap fast!@aus_turf_club @cwallerracing @mcacajamez pic.twitter.com/25iDzTgkKY
Winning Trainer: Chris Waller
On the win: "We just had to put her in the right races and she's gone bang, bang, bang. Tough mare."
What was the thinking down the straight: "I was still thinking about that last race (Pride Of Jenni). Full credit to Pride Of Jenni but it was just terrible to watch (for him).
"Zougotcha has done a good job. We gave her a decent break after she didn't come up in the spring. We didn't panic and we allowed her to be a racehorse.
"We gave her a proper break and she's won three-from-three this prep.
On Atishu: "Atishi, she's tough. Another stride and it might have been different celebrations, but hey, it is 1600-metres (and) until you get to the line there's no celebrating.
"The owners have the option to sell her. I don't think she'll be sold. There's still good racing in her. These are dream horses for people and breeding is not as easy as it sounds. I think she should race on.
"They (the horses) are good mates at the stables at home, too so there'll be a bit of bragging rights.
"It was a lovely ride from James and it was a good reward as he's had a tough day.
Comment on the Queen Elizabeth: "The race lacked a second and third tempo horse. You can't blame Craig because it is not the right thing to do.
"He did his job. He wasn't worried about what was behind him. He was just riding to finish the race and our boys were all stacked up behind basically at the crossroads waiting for the light to go green.
"That's the beauty of racing. Competitive racing with tactical jockeys.
"From my perspective it was disappointing but well done, Pride Of Jenni. I'd love to have at least been able to have a fight and Pride Of Jenni probably wins.
"To get so far off them, I don't know why they let the race unfold like that and most of my boys said it was out of their control but I think they all said that.
"I'm not taking anything way from Pride Of Jenni and hopefully we get a re-match in the spring."
Winning Jockey: James McDonald
"Very proud of this mare. She's an absolute ripper. Barriers win races. She has drawn beautiful marbles all the way through.
"She executes perfectly. She tries really hard. A mile is probably a stretch at Randwick but her will to win is phenomenal.
"She's so willing. She's definitely the mare of the autumn. She did a really good job today.
On winning the Nathan Berry Medal for the third time: "I thought I was running out of time to but it is very heartwarming to win it."
Beaten Jockeys:
Blake Shinn (Atishu): "Brave in defeat. Just hemmed away there, took my time to get to the outside. Stiff not to win."
Opie Bosson (Campionessa): "Got caught a bit deep from the draw. She ran well."
Jamie Kah (Ruthless Dame): "She ran a super race. Especially we knew the barrier wasn't going to be easy for her. She ran well."
Dylan Gibbons (Semana): "She probably travelled too keen. But tried her guts out and got third."
Tommy Berry (Olentia): "I was very proud of her. We probably needed a better barrier against that grade of horse."
Damian Lane (Eternal Flame): "She went super. Unfortunately she lept in the air at the barriers and found myself in a difficult position. She still ran home really well. Got stopped a bit late. Showed she is up to this company. Just things didn't go right today."
Josh Parr (Renaissance Woman): "A bit too negative out of the gates and the race wasn't run to suit."
Nash Rawiller (Madame Pommery): "Not sure."
Tim Clark (Osmose): "She just raced a bit keen outside the leader. Will be better suited back out in trip without the blinkers."
Mark Zahra (Barbie's Fox): "She tried her best."
Ben Melham (More Secrets): "Ran well for easier."
Adam Hyeronimus (Tropical Squall): "Brilliant. Showed again why she is a very good filly taking on the older mares. She ran the same as she did in the Coolmore. Break and the Spring will be good."
Michael Dee (Arctic Glamour): "Not sure she pulled up 100%."
Tyler Schiller (Makarena): "Massive run. Shame she hasn't had that testing trip at a mile yet but I thought she saw it out really strongly."
