3 minute read
Trainer and jockey quotes after Zou Dancer takes out Saturday’s Group 3 The TAB Vanity at Flemington.
Race Result:
1st: Zou Dancer (Jamie Kah/Leon & Troy Corstens) - $3.60F
2nd: Personal (Damien Oliver/Tom Dabernig & Ben Hayes) - $4.60
3rd: Starelle (Craig Williams/Danny O'Brien) - $8.50
Winning Time: 1:22.32 Last 600m: 34.73
Margins: 4¾L x ½L
Bring on the Australian Guineas!
— Racing.com (@Racing) February 13, 2021
Zou Dancer did that with ease. @FlemingtonVRC @RacingBennett
Winning Trainer: Leon & Troy Corstens (Troy speaking)
"It's funny. Niall Phillips rides all of our work down at Geelong and I was on the phone to dad and he put Niall on and he said 'I reckon she's improved by five lengths'. I said well if she has improved five lengths she'll be winning today. I didn't expect her to win by five lengths though.
What's next: "I'd say you'd have to start looking at the Australian Guineas. We talked about it and we don't want to put the cart before the horse but we'll have a talk to Jamie and see what she thinks.
"She settled up there and it was a nice speed. She managed to have plenty in the tank and kicked well.
"We've only had her for this preparation .She came from Tony & Calvin and she came to us in terrific order so we can't say we developed her from young horse but the Bennett boys said they were giving us a really good horse and they were right."
Fillies v colts: "I think they're very even at the moment. I'm really looking forward to the CS Hayes and seeing that. The fillies are going really well."
Winning Jockey: Jamie Kah
"I couldn't hear anything and I wondered if I was really that far in front.
"The way she got to the leader was effortless and the way she got to the line, she did it so easily. The way she was pricking her ears I thought they may be catching her but if someone came up and challenged her she (still) would have put a few lengths on them. She's got a motor, this girl."
On the Guineas: "I was saying to Troy earlier that when I rode this girl in a trial early on I thought she'd be a 1000 metre (horse) and that's it. Just the way she went about it she went a bit too quick early and didn't have much left. Today she relaxed beautifully and she should have relaxed for another furlong."
Tom Dabernig on Personal:
"Very happy with the run. The winner was just a bit sharp for us and I thought Ollie rode it beautifully and popped out (at the right time). She finished off nicely. She improved fitness-wise and will probably go three weeks into the Kewney.
"The mile and set weights so she'll come into that well. Probably then three weeks into the Vinery in Sydney and then three weeks into the Oaks. That's the plan, subject to change, if we have to."
BLUE DIAMOND - GODOLPHIN RUNNERS - SEAN KEOGH
Ingratiating after today's win: "Delighted. He showed he was far superior to that field considering that he had the weight penalty. The blinkers were good and he just looks like really smart customer, a really impressive horse. Strong and couldn't be more happier with that."
Arcaded: "She came through the Blue Diamond Prelude in great order. She's very straightforward in the run and able to quicken away from the field. She's beat everything that she's come up against under race conditions, so she's lining up for the Blue Diamond in good fashion."
Telluride: "Just pulled up a little bit sore from the run in the Prelude so we'll just ease off her for the moment."
Anamoe: "Cracking run last time off one trial. Had a super run. Just touched off by a very good horse in General Beau. He's going to take great benefit from the run around Caulfield again. Stepping up in trip and his work has been very good since."
Leaning for any of them: "I think similar to the Blue Diamond Prelude for the fillies a week ago, each of them brings something different to the race. At the moment I don't you can discount any one of them.
Can Enthaar be beaten: "I wouldn't be betting against her. She's got a lot of natural talent, a lot of natural speed. The stable have a very high opinion of her but our horses are up to some good races. We're happy with our team."
