3 minute read
Trainer and jockey quotes following the Group 3 Bill Ritchie Handicap at Randwick on Saturday won by Atishu.
Race Result:
1st: Atishu (T Clark/C Waller) - $3.50
2nd: Looks Like Elvis (G Boss/J Austin) - $31
3rd: Aramayo (J Collett/C Waller) - $13
Winning Time: 1:23.74 Last 600m: 34.94
Margins: ½ Neck x 1¼ L
Atishu kept grinding away and found the line first in the Group 3 Bill Ritchie Handicap.@cwallerracing @clarkyhk @aus_turf_club pic.twitter.com/4Wq2sZIcSW
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) September 18, 2021
Winning Trainer: Chris Waller
On Atishu's improvement: "We had her today back to 1400m third up, so we rode her a lot closer hence the reason she was a bit one-paced at the 300m, but gee like the way she fought all the way to the line."
Onto the Epsom: "It's a big help (with a free-ticket into the race) because you know you're in the field with a light weight so she will be well placed there. An extra 200m, tough Randwick mile so we are on track."
On the big names (Nature Strip/Verry Elleegant) in the other races on the day with the rain falling: "Makes it tricky doesn't it. We have a few others in the races as well but those two love it."
Winning Jockey: Tim Clark
On the way the race was run: "Obviously small fields, it was always going to be pretty tactical and that it was, especially early, and then the pace came out of the race."
"She was able to adapt well. I always felt she was going to be really strong late, she'd had a couple of runs and she was coming back in trip slightly, so she really toughed it out well late."
On the conditions: "I reckon it definitely didn't hurt her. She's had three runs here in Australia for Chris and she hasn't put a foot wrong so she's heading in the right direction."
Beaten Jockeys:
James McDonald (Numerian): "Poked through nicely. He is going to be a nice advertisement to Australian racing."
Jason Collett (Aramayo): "Good performance."
Kerrin McEvoy (Amarelinha): "Good first up run. She will come on a lot from that. Just had to come back to get some cover, the tempo wasn't on but ran a good race."
Hugh Bowman (Private Eye): "Slow pace didn't suit but he ran very well."
Regan Bayliss (Prime Star): "Ran really well. He's back on track. Just got a little bit annoyed from the horse outside him mid- race but gave a really good kick today so there is a race in him this Spring."
Glen Boss (Looks Like Elvis): "Every chance."
Rachel King (Harmony Rose): "Probably just went a bit slow for her."
Brock Ryan (Prompt Prodigy): "Just did too much work early and didn't let down off the back of that."
