3 minute read

Trainer and jockey quotes following Nettuno winning the Group 3 TAB Ken Russell Memorial Classic at Gold Coast on Saturday.

Race Result:

1st: Nettuno (T Gollan/R Maloney) - $2.20
2nd: Midnight In Tokyo (K Fogden/B Thompson) - $31
3rd: Sheeza Belter (Team Snowden/W Pike) - $15

Winning Time: 1:xx.xx Last 600m: 3x.xx

Margins: L x L

Nettuno defies the drift and holds them off.@tonygollan @RMaloney_Jockey @GCTurfClub pic.twitter.com/w1pKDOxua8

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 7, 2022

Winning Trainer: Tony Gollan

Thoughts on the win on testing ground: "He wasn't as good as what he'd been. When he won up at the Sunshine Coast, it was an improving Heavy 8 that day and this is a deteriorating Heavy 8 here today, if not a nine. I don't think he handled this ground as good. He wasn't the best version of himself today."

Thoughts on the run: "He's still a work in progress as you saw it. I would like to have seen Allude cross him early and be able to switch down. That wasn't able to happen so Ryan (Maloney) had to use a bit of initiative, but in doing that, he just did a little bit of work through those early and middle stages, which I didn't want to see today, particularly on this sort of ground. In the end it was a good move by Ryan. I just was very concerned off the corner when he had to ask him to come into the race because usually he would just go through his gears nice. Tough win today but he is a better version of himself."

On the promise Nettuno is showing: "There was a point there where he was able to be beaten and he was able to pick himself up and win. That's always a good quality in a horse, particularly a colt, when you win when you're there to be defeated. I think he's got a really, really promising future this colt. I think he is probably one of the more excitable horses I've trained. There's a lot to look forward to I think in the spring with him now. I don't think we'll go again this winter, but really happy with that win."

Winning Jockey: Ryan Maloney

Thoughts on Nettuno: "He's a quality colt, there's no doubt about that. He's probably getting towards the back end of his preparation now and this track is very genuine Heavy 10 and we got through it, but I think it was more his class that got him the win today."

"If he was mine, I'd be putting it away and setting him for the three-year-old sprints in Melbourne."

"I think that was probably the best he had settled all preparation. If Mark (Allude) had gone on to go on with it I would have been able to take a sit but he (Allude) was happy to sit there so I ended up taking it up on my own accord. I knew his determination and his ability would get him through. It's just a credit to him because a lesser horse would have just given up in that ground and he stuck it right out to the finish even though I got a bit willing there towards the end, he wanted to win it and let's the quality he's shown from day dot."

"Hopefully he can go on with it and like I predict hopefully go down in the spring for the Melbourne three-year-old sprints.

 "100% and with a sit. I think he'll show another dimension and be an even better horse next time around when he can get those conditions and the races run to suit. It's exciting times."