What the jockeys said after the Victoria Derby
Damien Oliver (Warning) 1st : “We were leaning to riding him quietly but he began so well I had to change plans pretty quick. I got there a bit soon but we’d gone so slow I didn’t want to get in his way. I just let him build his momentum … I knew I’d had such an economical run and I had confidence in him after working him last Tuesday that he’d stay well, he’s such a clean-winded horse, and he was just really strong.”
Billy Egan (Southern Moon) 2nd : “Everything worked out lovely. It looked like everyone’s dreams were going to come true but the other horse just kicked too good.”
Dwayne Dunn (Soul Patch) 3rd : “It was a great effort. He just pulled a little firmly in the early part of the race. He presented really well on the corner but take nothing away from the winner, he’s done a great job.”
Hugh Bowman (Relucent) 4th : “I was really pleased with him. He’s a really nice stayer in the making. There wasn’t just high enough pressure in the race for us. Needed a really strong pace and that’s what it wasn’t.”
Joshua Parr (Shadow Hero) 5th : “The finish wasn’t there for him today. Possibly the first time on a wet track, taken out of his comfort zone for the first time and possibly the end of the prep too, it was just all a combination of being too much.”
Luke Nolen (Independent Road) 6th : “Probably unsuited by the slippery conditions.”
Craig Williams (Long Jack) 7th : “He really offset the outside barrier, we were really quick but he just overraced where he was with the blinkers on against these horses.”
Jamie Kah (Craftsmanship) 8th : “He settled lovely in the run. I’m not sure if he runs out the trip or doesn’t like the wet. Maybe both.”
Jye McNeil (Huntly Castle) 9th : “I ended getting a nice trail into it but I’m not one hundred per cent sure he stayed in those conditions.”
Mark Zahra (Thought Of That) 10th : “He wasn’t that quick away but every time I let him off the bridle he just struggled in that ground.”
John Allen (Sign Seal Deliver) 11th : “He ran OK for only a maiden.”
Jordan Childs (Translator) 12th : “He ran OK. He’s probably come to the end of his prep.”
Dean Yendall (He Is) 13th : “He’s looking for a bit of a break … didn’t see the trip.”
Jack Hill (Lucky Edward) 14th : “He was average.”
Michael Walker (Navarre) 15th : “Outclassed.”