3 minute read
Trainer and jockey quotes after the Newhaven Park Country Championships Final at Randwick on Saturday taken out by Sizzle Minizzle.
Race Result:
1st: Sizzle Minizzle (B Robb/S Clipperton) - $61
2nd: Talbragar (C Morgan/J McDonald) - $4F
3rd: I've Bean Tryin' (M Kelley/E Hennessy) - $14
Winning Time: 1:26.54 Last 600m: 37.64
Margins: 2L x Half Neck
It's Sizzle Minizzle's @NewhavenPark Country Championship Final, paying $75!
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 1, 2023
Congratulations to all connections. pic.twitter.com/t2BwiVZGCg
Winning Trainer: Brett Robb
On getting his team ready for the final: "I knew I was coming here with a lot fitter horse than what I had at Coonamble (qualifying heat), he missed out on a bit of work heading into it.
"Between now and then, I've been able to jam more work into him, I knew I had a fitter horse.
"I was only telling someone this morning that I'll be glad when this weekend is over because you're preparing these horses for this a long time out.
"At the start of it, I had six horses set for it but at the end I only had three, a lot of things go wrong and it's a lot of work to get these horses here."
On handling the conditions: "When I was getting in the truck to come here this morning from out at Penrith and they rung me and said it was pouring down rain, I was getting real nervous then because I didn't think he could handle the wet. He just showed he can."
"He went around as a two-year-old at Scone on a wet track and he ran well, but I didn't think he got through it that day.
On the horse: "The horse is still maturing, he's a really nice horse. I've always liked the horse, ever since I broke him in I rode him for the first time and I rung (owner) Greg and I said, 'I think you've got a nice horse here'.
"He's just taken a little bit longer than we thought for the penny to drop. I think he's got more improvement left in him, I think we're going to have a lot of fun with him."
On this being his biggest win: "Definitely."
On if he's a potential Kosciusko runner: "He could be. I want to set Gallant Star for that, I want to try and get him into that.
On what his Dad will think: "He'll be happy. He's at Tomingley picnics today so I hope he wins the Cup there."
Winning Jockey: Scott Clipperton
On handling the conditions: "The first half he was giving me the indication that he wasn't handling it, I thought 'alright I'll get you to the 600m and look after you mate.' Well, the further the race went on he just grabbed the bridle more and more and just took the shortest way home, it all opened up on the rail."
"One thing about wet tracks if the horse is handling it there's no point scouting wide looking for better ground if they're getting through it. Just take the short cuts. I tried to get him as far down the straight without having to use the whip and then just gave him a couple of little taps that last furlong and he streaked away. Ate up the ground and I'm really proud to win this race."
On riding for trainer Brent Robb: Brett Rob, the trainer always gives me a ride in the Highways and a real good countryman, a real good bush fella and he's a great horseman. I'm really proud of him and his team. It's a big occasion for everyone involved and it's like the Melbourne Cup or the The Everest of the bush."
On him riding plenty of winners in the wet: "I'm just a wet tracker. I loved last autumn, I haven't been going very good this autumn but it's wet and it's my day to play."
Beaten Jockeys:
Aaron Bullock (Akasawa): "I'm not sure. Is it still an 8? It is definitely worse than that. They don't get much heavier. My horse drew that awkward barrier, I rolled back in behind them. You won't be making much ground today."
Nick Heywood (Testator Silens): "Very disappointed. Was very quiet going to the gates and raced accordingly."
Ellen Hennessy (I've Bean Tryin'): "Super run. Very tough from a bad gate. Very proud of him."
James McDonald (Talbragar): "Lovely horse. Beautifully prepared and ran its heart out."
Darryl McLellan (Sir Ravanelli): "He pulled a shoe off around the back. Hit his joints so that didn't help me."
Mitchell Bell (Amicus Curiae): "Never got through the track."
Tyler Schiller (Bianco Vilano): "He travelled really well. Track didn't suit but he was very brave."
Rachel King (Our Last Cash): "Massive run. I don't think the heavy really ideal for him. Very honest."
Ben Looker (Bean Foggy): "Just struggled in the conditions. Landed in a nice spot. Wheels were spinning when I asked him to quicken."
Koby Jennings (Imatruestar): "Very happy with him considering the heavy track. His wheels just spin on the track. Massive effort to finish where he did.'
Zac Lloyd (Wizard Of Oz): "No luck from the gate. Too heavy for him."
Reece Jones (De Forerunner): "Had a nice little trail in behind them. Fell to pieces in the testing conditions."
Kerrin McEvoy (Smooth Esprit): "Shame the rain came for him. Clint had him in great order. Just didn't enjoy the conditions."
Ashley Morgan (Running Bear): "Too heavy. I thought did a good job to put herself into some type of contention."
Zac Purton (Kimberley Secrets): "Just wanted to go a little bit hard early. It told in the end."
