3 minute read

Trainer and jockey quotes after the Very Special Kids Pin and Win Plate at Flemington on Saturday won by Floating Artist.

Race Result:

1st: Floating Artist (T Nugent/C Maher & D Eustace) - $8
2nd: Defibrillate (B Egan/P Payne) - $8
3rd: Persan (L Currie/C Maher & D Eustace) - $20

Winning Time: 1:43.58  Last 600m: N/A

Margins:  ¾L x ¾L

Floating Artist is loving Australia.

Another great win from the former European galloper. @cmaherracing @TeoNugent1 pic.twitter.com/L4WSUuyzaS

— Racing.com (@Racing) September 11, 2021

Winning Trainer: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace (Ciaron interviewed)

"He really put the writing on the wall during the week. He worked with 'The Dragon' (Sir Dragonet) at Sandown on Monday.

"The Dragon bridled up on the side of him and he had him on toast but he kicked back and had the better of him.

"In the last race (Makybe Diva Stakes) that gave me a bit of confidence - The Dragon ran really well.

"It was a really good ride by Teo. I said if he jumps well, there was only a bit of speed from Zeigfeld on the outside - or that is how it looked on paper anyway. I said if he jumps well, press forward, and he got it right. He's been our apprentice for a long time and great for him.

"He was going to sneak onto some of these light rides going into these bigger races. He can ride any weight and is in good form. Good result."

What's next: "THis'll bump his rating up a little bit. We put quite a few of these European horses into the bigger races just being the year it is. They might be able to sneak in. Thankfully the team have done a good job picking them and for the team to be coming good at the right time.

"We'll see where his rating fits in and see where we go from there. Probably tick our way through to a country cup or something like that."

What's next for Sir Dragonet: "He'll probably roll around to the Underwood. We'll get him down the beach. It was a good run."

Winning Jockey: Teodore Nugent

"I galloped this horse in the lead-up at Moonee Valley. He gave me a lovely feel that day and I know it was only a pick up ride but very fortunate I have great bosses at home in Ciaron and David and they threw their support behind me with the light weight and 54 kilos today and they gave me a nice opportunity to ride this horse.

"Big thanks to Ciaron, really. He gave me an open book. If we jumped well from the gates he said to roll forward with him but we drew a sticky gate in 10 and just left it as an open book and to his credit he flew the gates and he just trucked into it so well.

"He always felt like the winner at the top of the straight. He ploughed through that ground and loved every minute of it."