3 minute read
Trainer and jockey quotes after Zoutori takes out Saturday’s Group 1 Newmarket Handicap at Flemington.
Race Result:
1st: Zoutori (L Currie/M Ellerton & S Zahra) - $20
2nd: Indian Pacific (B Parnham/N Parnham) - $21
3rd: Amish Boy (D Yendall/C Maher & D Eustace) - $81
Winning Time: 1:09.61 Last 600m: 34.38
Margins: Head x ¾L
Zoutori carries the top weight and wins that Group 1 Newmarket Handicap!
— Racing.com (@Racing) March 6, 2021
He is a ripper!@FlemingtonVRC @ellertonzahra pic.twitter.com/cWFNlSUyho
Winning Trainer: Mat Ellerton & Simon Zahra (Mat speaking)
"I don't get too nervous pre-raceday but I was a little but toey today. Things have gone to plan with him from the Oakleigh Plate and he's really come on well. Probably the only thing in the back of my mind was drawing (barrier) four. Luke gave him a great steer."
Is the horse better than the fourth-placing last year: "I don't know about better, but he's a good, tough honest sprinter who is a dual Group 2 winner and now a Group 1 winner. He's got a great CV especially down the straight."
Winning this race means a lot: "It's on our doorstep (Flemington). It's a time-honoured sprint and we're just chuffed to win the race."
On the horse: "He was a bit of lad as a colt - a bit hard to handle. He was pretty quickly a gelding and he found his way pretty quick, really. We took him to Brisbane as a three-year-old and I don't think he 'went' on that leg. I don't think he travels, actually.
"We took him to Adelaide last year and just did nothing. I think he's a bit of a sulk (sook) that way but his CV down the straight is exceptional."
Winning Jockey: Luke Currie
"It just all panned out for him. He got on the back of the speed on the inside. He brought us out to a part of the track where I was happy to be. I suppose going into the race, the race looked, probably middle to outside, they looked the horses to beat.
"We were going to have to do it on our own a little bit down on the inside but Indian Pacific gave him a really good bunny to chase. Full credit to Matty and SImon, they gave me a pretty easy ride. It was a great effort by him.
"I'd like to thank my manager, Travis, and Deane Lester who when I was umming and ahhing which way to go with a couple (of horses) they were keen. I know Deane was very keen on Zoutori and there are not many better judges than him.
"It was a great effort by the whole team to get over the line."
Fourth G1 win this season: "Off the back of having a fall last year and having quite some time off, I was lucky enough to pick up a couple of good ones over the spring. I had a bit of a rest over the spring. I didn't ride too much which has helped the body and it's been a great autumn so far. Hopefully there's a couple more in us yet.
"I couldn't do it without the support of not only the owners and trainers that support me but my team around me, and my family, Sophia and the kids. They're a great support."
Beaten jockeys:
Mark Zahra (Elite Street): "He was exposed but was a bit disappointing."
Damian Lane (Imaging): "Ran well. They were just too sharp for him in the middle stages."
William Pike (Celebrity Queen): "Got my tactics wrong. She's better than that."
John Allen (Dalasan): "A bit disappointing. Probably the 1200 metres is a bit sharp for him."
Damien Oliver (Flit): "Fair run. She was off the bit a fair way from home and seemed to be struggling but then kind of got going again when the race was all over."
Michael Walker (Standout): "He was relaxed, he just doesn't finish off. He's not trying."
Daniel Stackhouse (Bold Star): "Disappointing."
Damien Thornton (Brooklyn Hustle): "It's a cruel game."
Lachie King (Halvorsen): "He tracked the field well but he didn't let down. He might have just needed the run again."
Brad Parnham (Indian Pacific): "I was super proud of his effort. He rolled along quick in front. I felt like I had them chasing me but he just got done in the end. It was a good effort."
Craig Newitt (Prophet's Thumb): "Went super. Probably nearly a career best run."
Craig Williams (September Run): "She wasn't beaten far but she didn't get a smooth run throughout. She was inconvenienced with her run from the 400 (metres) to the winning post and didn't get the favours we were hoping to get. It was a completely different race for her and a disappointing result because she had been coming on so well. I guess today when you have a big field and things don't work out, when you get squeezed and jammed, and a horse with that level of experience, and with that weight, they're big factors.".
Jamie Kah (Sirius Suspect): "He was ok. He was just a bit one-paced. They had more of a turn-of-foot on him."
Dean Yendall (Amish Boy): "Good run. Just came off the bridle a bit early. They went at a good gallop but it was a gallant effort from him stepping back from 1400m to six-furlongs. Good effort, good training performance."
Michael Dee (Prague): "Good run. He was really building momentum through the line."
Jye McNeil (Swats That): "She ran honest. Seems to be just a couple of lengths off these horses."
