3 minute read

Trainer and jockey quotes after the Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour Handicap at Flemington on Saturday won by Hezashocka.

Race Result:

1st: Hezashocka (Patrick Moloney/Mick Price & Michael Kent Jr) - $61
2nd: Lyrical Lad (Jamie Mott/Phillip Stokes) - $11
3rd: Kipps (Brett Prebble/Maher & Eustace) - $17

Winning Time: 1:39.86 Last 600m: N/A

Margins: Short Half Head x 1 Length

Hezashocka holds on by the skin of his teeth at a huge price... @MickPriceRacing @OTIRacing pic.twitter.com/nK5LNKzj1x

— Racing.com (@Racing) May 14, 2022

Winning Trainer: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jr (Kent Jr speaking)

Surprising win: "Somewhat. He's been going really well, his trials have been much sharper but we still thought he'd take a run today and watching the run it was a farcical tempo and I thought this won't suit us and he came off the bridle quite early but he really found well and it was a very close photo, I didn't think we'd got that one."

Horse's progression: "We bought him off a Group Two win in New Zealand, he went straight to the Queensland Derby and it was a bit too soon for him. He came back last prep, he wasn't mature yet. He's a very rangey, raw, scopey horse. I think just with a bit more time and putting more bulk on. He's still quite a fretty horse, he got quite sweaty out the back there."

This preparation: "He's got plenty of improvement to come still. He's only going to keep getting better with time, he'll go straight to 2000m next start."

Winning Jockey: Patrick Moloney

Confidence pre-race: "He's a class animal, that's why he's up here carrying top weight, albeit over a bit more ground but obviously being down at Warrnambool, the team have done a terrific job with him, started him from the ground up and he's come back a much more furnished product."

During the run: "I didn't expect him to sprint that quick, he just had the freshness and sharpness in his legs and I was a bit shocked I got there a bit too soon, I wanted to try and build into it but he sprinted a bit quicker than what I thought."

"When I pressed the go button he ran straight up the backsides of them so I sort of had to bullock my way out and I think this horse has come back a much more rounded animal and he's only going to improve as the distances go up."

Photo finish: "I thought he (Mott) actually got me, but I was pretty happy when the cameraman was following me back to scale."