3 minute read
Trainer and jockey quotes after the Listed Exford Plate at Flemington on Saturday taken out by Mr Mozart.
Race Result:
1st: Mr Mozart (F Kersley/M, W & J Hawkes) - $14
2nd: Artorius (L Currie/A & S Freedman) - $1.60F
3rd: Hilal (J McNeil/M, W & J Hawkes) - $6.50
Winning Time: 1:24.32 Last 600m: N/A
Margins: ½ Neck x Long Neck
Mr Mozart turns his form around!
— Racing.com (@Racing) September 11, 2021
Great ride from @FKersley. @HawkesRacing @FlemingtonVRC pic.twitter.com/YYcObD5Hbu
Winning Trainer: Team Hawkes (Wayne interviewed)
"He did a really good job. His first-up run was really, really good and then second-up at Caulfield it was a similar sort of run and he just didn't have the sprint like they did second-up.
"But with 1400 metres at Flemington, 200 metres in the racing industry is a hell of a long way but when you go from a 1200 metre race to 1400, with most young horses it throws a real curveball.
"We see it in the Slipper to the Sires' Produce every year, lots of horses overrace and do the wrong thing so we were really looking forward to Mr Mozart getting out to 1400 and he did a good job.
"When you're at Flemington you just can't wait for that winning post and when you're screaming home you don't want it to be there."
On Hilal - better performance: "It was but if you watched the replay he threw his head around and he was annoying one horse and that was the winner. I thought, how are we going with two horses in the race, one is annoying the other one.
"It wasn't Jye's fault but he just overdid it with the blinkers on. He's always wanted the blinkers and they do that. It makes it terribly tough. He was a bit unlucky, to be fair. He was only beaten a length and everything pretty much went wrong with him."
What's next: "They're both in the same sort of race but I told dear old dad that he's a Caulfield Guineas horse, Mr Mozart, when he worked about three weeks ago so that is looking pretty good.
"I don't know about HIlal. You never make a decision on race day but might think about taking him back to Sydney and running him up there. There's a lot to contend with. We had two horses and got the job done and one did everything wrong and nearly won. Two great quality colts there."
Winning Jockey: Fred Kersley
"It was a great performance. He's obviously quite a difficult horse to ride. We've seen his last two runs at Caulfield and he's doing a lot wrong. He's still green and raw.
"Wayne and the team really left it open to me. He began well. Surprised me that he didn't get up on the bridle as much as he has been his last few starts.
"I was rapt when Craig Newitt came across and there was a fair bit of speed. It really helped me out."
