3 minute read
Trainer and jockey quotes after Excess Funds takes out the Tonks Plate at Ballarat on Saturday.
Race Result:
1st: Excess Funds (D Lane/L Kavanagh) - $4.80
2nd: Hi Stranger (J McNeil/S Fliedner) - $3.60F
3rd: Enigman (W Price/C Maher & D Eustace) - $21
Winning Time: 1:11.81 Last 600m: N/A
Margins: ½ Head x 1L
.@Hkhutchi's top selection, Excess Funds ($5), fights off Hi Stranger for a tough win.
— Racing.com (@Racing) November 21, 2020
Jayne Ivil's #PickoftheYard was an eye-catcher from last to run third. @Levi_MKavRacing @LaneDamian @BallTurfClub pic.twitter.com/6Z8KLtedCU
Winning Trainer: Levi Kavanagh
"I was quietly confident in him. We didn't see the best of him down the straight on Melbourne Cup Day. He pulled up after having lost a shoe and was a little bit sore. We had to use that as a bit of a forget run. His second-up run, that sort of form brought to today, that should have had him right where we were.
"Being his third run in, we're much better now. He's getting fitter and getting towards peak fitness now.
"Great ride by Damien. It's probably against his pattern. He probably normally gets back and chases home and he said today that he might be forward. Credit to him. He judged the pace well, held the field up and then kicked away.
"I think he's still improving and we haven't seen the best of him yet."
What's next: "I'm happy to go to the Standish on New Year's Day. He'll have another run between now and then. Whether we go interstate for that, we'll see."
Winning Jockey: Damian Lane
"He was a little bit keen because I was in an awkward spot up with the leader head-and-head. We weren't going quick enough to come back off him and we'd have to do too much to keep going.
"He's a horse that probably feels as if he's going to put the race away but always just waits for the horses a little bit. But good to have him back in good form and good to get a win out of him."
Ciaron Maher on third-placed Enigman:
"I said to Will just to be back and have the last crack at them because that's what he did in Darwin. He's a bit of a funny horse. He should be called "Enigma" not Enigman.
Horse returns to Maher's stable after the stint in Darwin: "I bred him. Just sent him to Darwin and he was about 50-1 when he won the Palmeston."
** MAGIC MILLIONS **
Mick Price on Our Playboy pointing to Magic Millions Guineas:
"We were going to run him in the Coolmore and he ran about fifth. That was him at his best there. But he is a Magic Millions horse and with his prizemoney he will get a run in the 1400 metre three-year-old race.
"I reckon we're not far off sending him north and then in the first couple of weeks in December there'll be a trial, a run at Eagle Farm - I think there's a race for him there but it might be an open handicap, then into the 1400 metre race. He's eligible for the big prizemoney so we'll have a look-see.
Worked opposite way at Caulfield: "He was good. He actually used to 'hit' himself going the Melbourne way so I'm thinking with a little break the reverse way might be good."
