3 minute read
Trainer and jockey quotes following the 2021 Country Achiever John Ledger Handicap won by Schabau at Flemington on Saturday.
Race Result:
1st: Schabau (B Prebble/R Hickmott)
2nd: Killourney (D Holland/P Preusker)
3rd: One More Try (C Williams/M Cumani)
Winning Time: 2:43.38 Last 600m: 35.04
Margins: Long Head x 3/4L
The money was spot on.
— Racing.com (@Racing) August 7, 2021
He was vulnerable late, but Schabau does enough to win with @blprebble in the saddle. @FlemingtonVRC pic.twitter.com/XKwAEWSwXb
Winning Trainer: Robert Hickmott
On the ride: "Perfect ride by Brett. We wanted to go forward today, whether we had the drop on Tolemac or we were in front. It worked out nicely."
On his fitness levels: "He got tired late but he was entitled to. He had a pretty interrupted week this week with no gallop on Tuesday for him (due to surface water).
"We had to do a little bit on the treadmill with him so there's plenty of improvement for the horse to come.
"It was good that he lasted but a little bit scary late."
On his program: "He'll probably be back here on September 11 in the 2500m and three weeks into the Bart Cummings."
Winning Jockey: Brett Prebble
Got it right: "I probably asked him for an effort 50 metres before I should have. He was probably a touch underdone and he was found wanting in the last part, but he got there. We had a soft time in front and the others had to come around and do the work. He's a lovely horse and he's got better form than this and you hope that he should have been winning a bit better than he did, but as I said, I don't think he was fully tuned up for it."
How far off is he: "That will bring him on a lot and getting a bum (something to follow) as well rather than doing the donkey work out in front will help him a lot. He's really honest and tries hard. He went really straight today. They put a bubble cheeker on him today and he had the rail to guide him, but I still feel coming around them he wouldn't have hung in. It looks like we've ironed out that little problem with him and onwards and upwards with him."
