3 minute read
Trainer and jockey quotes following the Group 2 Feehan Stakes won by Superstorm at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
Race Result:
1st: Superstorm (D O'Brien/D Oliver) - $6
2nd: Elephant (E & D Browne/L Currie) - $5.50F
3rd: The Chosen One (M Baker & A Forsman/D Lane) - $10
Winning Time: 1:38.75 Last 600m: N/A
Margins: Nose x Long Neck
There's a SUPERSTORM at @TheValley!
— Racing.com (@Racing) September 4, 2021
Superstorm books his ticket into the 2021 Cox Plate. @DOBrienRacing @TheValley pic.twitter.com/neBLpwJcv1
Winning Trainer: Danny O'Brien
"It was always going to be a difficult map for him. He hasn't got much gate speed albeit he took a more prominent position today but you definitely would have preferred to be three-wide peeling and getting momentum.
"Particularly on a horse like Superstorm who builds so much through his finish. They had nowhere to go and as they straightened he's gone back to the fence which hasn't been the place all day and he's still been able to lift him and get him over the line.
"I don't think there was much in his favour today and he's still got there. He's second-up still from nearly a year off so the win was full of merit. He's a horse that has always raced at the top level and he hadn't won for a while so it is great to get back winning with him.
"We were very pleased with him the moment he arrived from WA. He came to us in terrific shape and it has been a pretty straightforward preparation with him. We knew there would be good improvement from first-up to today.
"We were confident the horse would run well but it always looked like it would be complicated and needed a D Oliver special."
What's next: "I'll speak to Bob Peters and he'll decide where the horse will be best placed. We really wanted to see how he went in the early part of the spring. I suspect the Underwood next run in three weeks to the 1800 metres. A big track like Sandown will suit too.
"It is only going to get harder. There's a lot of really nice horses going around in Sydney today so we're pleased to get on the board today and looking forward to the rest of the spring with him."
Winning Jockey: Damien Oliver
"It hasn't been his strength getting out of the gates but we wanted to be a bit more proactive today and he might have got a little bit of a squeeze there, but I thought it could be a little bit of a Russian Camelot situation, this race, like in the All Star Mile.
"I thought the horses inside of him had a bit more speed than him and I was able to drop in behind them. The fence probably hasn't been the place to be today but they went steady in that race so the tempo helped us in being able to sneak through and get the run when we did.
Getting the gaps: "I was hoping more than anything. He hasn't got a brilliant turn-of-foot but he does build his momentum. It is probably not the ideal track here for him but he's always shown good quality and when the gaps opened up he was able to get through well.
"I think a big galloping track like Sandown will suit him and the 1800 as well. From the time I jumped on him I felt the mile to 2000 was going to be the best trip on him and I think he's showing that."
