3 minute read

Trainer and jockey quotes after King Magnus claims the Les Taggart “Bar’s Closed” Handicap at Caulfield on Saturday.

Race Result:

1st: King Magnus (Griffiths & De Kock/A Kelly) - $9.50
2nd: Jumbo Ozaki (D O'Brien/F Kersley) - $8.50
3rd: Scantoon (G Begg/B Egan) - $3.60

Winning Time: 1:24.32 Last 600m: N/A

Margins: Short Neck x 1L

Alana Kelly gets a Caulfield double.

Terrific performance from King Magnus in the final event. @griffithsdekock @MelbRacingClub pic.twitter.com/aPFiQJT5a9

— Racing.com (@Racing) July 10, 2021

Winning Trainer: Robbie Griffiths & Mat de Kock (Mat speaking)

"That was a very strange one first-up. He's never shown any signs of bunny hopping or anything like that when the rider gets on. It was strange.

"This was a very tactically intelligent ride and big ups to Alana for today's performance.

"This is probably the best nation of lady riders around the world. Very impressive.

"When you have an ex-jockey like Robbie with all his experience, and all of our team, and the likes of Alana with it all coming together today, the result is as you've seen.

On the combos first season: "Amazing. It's been an amazing start and week in week out we keep coming to the city with winners from a small pool of older horses. I think it is testament to the good team that we have formed and the future is very bright because we were strong at the sales and hopefully the ball keeps rolling.

"It's very easy to wake up in the morning at the moment."

Winning Jockey: Alana Kelly

"He very much thought about it. Got to the front and daydreamed but picked up and found the line. He likes his 'friends' and getting out by himself, he thinks about it a little bit but he is tough when they come to him.

How long has she been riding: "Forever. Dad's trained and I grew up in racing. My first ride was at Manangatang in 2018."