3 minute read

Trainer and jockey quotes after Zac De Boss claims the Benchmark 64 Vin Quirk Handicap at Caulfield on Saturday.

Race Result:

1st: Zac De Boss (D Thornton/M Ellerton & S Zahra) - $6
2nd: Jiminez (J Noonan/D Arnold) - $15
3rd: Galgani (D Oliver/N Burke) - $6.50

Winning Time: 1:23.99 Last 600m: N/A

Margins: 1½L x ½L

Zac De Boss pulled away late from Jimenez to win softly on the line. @ellertonzahra @FirstLight_FLR

— Racing.com (@Racing) January 2, 2021

Winning Trainer: Mathew Ellerton & Simon Zahra (Simon speaking)

"He's pretty raw. When he hit the front he wanted to run around a bit. It looked a good race for him on paper and he can stay around this grade for a while. Three-year-old, we thought he mightn't get there but after his work on Tuesday morning we were pretty positive about his chances today.

"I thought he might've gone a bit early. I think I might have sworn when he popped out. But he's got a lovely stride and he just worked into the race beautifully. It was a key not to get to the front too early. But he was too good and ran away with it."

Pressing on: "I think so. He's a big horse, a few immaturity problems but we'll find another three-year-old race around this distance and try and cash in and get some prizemoney."

Winning Jockey: Damien Thornton

"He's certainly on the up. Last prep he didn't show much at all but this time he has come back a different horse. It's amazing what a bit of time can do for some breeds that can take a little bit longer and want a bit of ground, which I'm sure we will later on.

"He was good today. I found a nice spot and (they) led out fairly soft so I wanted to be thereabouts on the corner. He doesn't know how to pick up so he's still learning. But he was really good."

Exciting to be on a horse with potential: "It makes your life easier. You've got the horse there. You've just got to trust that they'll put him in the right spot. He's certainly going to keep improving. I thought I was on the best horse in the race but he was probably the most immature out of all of them. That was the only negative coming into the race. He just had to overcome that and he coped with the occasion pretty well, I think."