3 minute read
Trainer and jockey quotes following the Group 3 Schweppervescence won by Saif at Rosehill on Saturday.
Race Result:
1st: Saif (Craig Williams/Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes) - $6.50
2nd: Converge (Tim Clark/Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott) - $7
3rd: Gin Martini (Regan Bayliss/John Sargent) - $61
Winning Time: 1:23.85 Last 600m: 35.24
Margins: 1 ¾L x 1 ¼L
What a ride from @CWilliamsJockey aboard Saif for @HawkesRacing! pic.twitter.com/RhF3G1SPn4
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 3, 2021
Winning Trainer: Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes (Michael comments)
On the horse and the run: "He's a lovely horse, he's done everything right. Obviously Wayne's (Hawkes) pre-trained him for me in Melbourne. He had the gun run, he was third the fence and Craig just had to wait until the gap came and he just presented well. He's still a baby, he's still learning what it's all about but barriers definitely give you a massive advantage, especially in two-year-old races."
On what's next: "Look, he's just still a baby. Obviously we had this race in mind. It's all about how he pulls up to whether we continue on. We've always taken it race by race but you could probably still see, he's still learning, he's just very raw. He's going to be a magnificent three-year-old. But you know what he's doing it now. We gelded him early he was going to be a big boy, but he's definitely got the ability. It's all about whether he handles himself from here on in."
Winning Jockey: Craig Williams
On the win: "Credit to team Hawkes. Melbourne, Sydney, but even from his first run at Ballarat to his second run in the G2 race at Flemington, you can see the mannerisms of this horse keep getting better. They were very patient with him. Didn't make him something that he is not quite. You can see the rewards now for the owners and trainers by the way this horse devoured this field."
On the run: "It was nice from barrier one. I'd like to draw it more often when the track is as nice and even as it is today. I had the right horse. He was a little slow into stride. He was able to maintain that position. He was a little bit new and keen in parts of that race. Then late he was quite soft. It was a great way to start a big race day."
On the track: "Can see why the track curator moved the race out 6m because of the wear and tear and scarring toward the inside part of the track. We came through that then. Some races might be tempo related not so much a track pattern but related to field sizes."
Beaten Jockeys:
Andrew Adkins (Readily Availabull): "Raced a bit keen."
Tim Clark (Converge): "He ran terrific. Improving nicely as he gets into his prep."
Glen Boss (With Your Blessing): "He ran well but just raced a bit fresh."
James McDonald (Coastwatch): "Common run. Just plain."
Tom Marquand (Conrad): "Probably had to use too much petrol from that gate. Will be seen to better effect."
Kerrin McEvoy (Mr Mozart): "Good run. He's raced a bit keen throughout in the early/middle stages. Nice run, he'll be there."
Brenton Avdulla (Tea Leaves): "We had no luck from the gate but I think he's come to the end of his prep."
Hugh Bowman (Wizard Of Oz): "Not quite ready mentally."
Rachel King (Testimonial): "Just the month between runs saw her out."
Jason Collett (Flying Witness): "Wasn't comfortable travelling in amongst them."
Regan Bayliss (Gin Martini): "Terrific run. Was slow out."
Robbie Dolan (Forgot You): "He's probably a 3yo."
