3 minute read
Trainer and jockey quotes following the 3YB FM Scotty Stewart Brierly Steeplechase won by Britannicus at Warrnambool on Tuesday.
Race Result:
1st: Britannicus (Aaron Kuru/Symon Wilde) - $5.50
2nd: Valac (Steven Pateman/Steven Pateman) - $3F
3rd: Flying Agent (Lee Horner/Amy McDonald) - $5.50
Winning Time: 4:11.86 Last 600m: N/A
Margins: 1¾L x 1½L
"The runner-up last year, the hero this year!"
— Racing.com (@Racing) May 2, 2023
Britannicus goes one better for @wilde_racing & @AaronKuru pic.twitter.com/FSNG0IAm3p
Winning Trainer: Symon Wilde
"Last year he was terribly unlucky. He ran out and mucked up the corner. We set him for this race straight after.
"He's a deadset Brierly horse. Just getting him to relax a bit better and funnily enough Will Gordon rode him in a trial here and settled him beautifully.
"But Will was already committed and Aaron does a lot of trialing for me. That was a good, brave ride. There wasn't a lot of room on the corner. I think that won him the race.
"All credit to Aaron and all credit to the horse. I get so much enjoyment out of jumps racing. I just love it and I thought it was a great spectacle. Marvellous.
"That was a massive thrill. I've grown up watching these races and all the great horses over the years. To actually be competing in it, it really is great fun. I pinch myself."
Winning Jockey: Aaron Kuru
"This race has been run for a long time and it is a privilege to be at Warrnambool and I think bittersweet for the stable running second last year and to go one better this year."
Cutting the corner after Tozer Road: "Probably just a bit too brave there, but Lee (Horner, Flying Agent) was taking me off my line and that's not where I wanted to be.
"I knew I had the horse to muster if I switched back but Lee's horse come up at the second to out-jump me and luckily I was on a horse of his experience to get me out of that.
"From them on home it was a matter of maintaining the gallop to the line and digging in for a good fight.
Towards the line: "He was shortening up really quickly and that's a very strong Brierly field. I thought there's a lot better gallopers and jumpers than him and I thought they were going to get over the top of me late.
"I threw the kitchen sink at him.
"He had a different prep this year. He had no jumps racing coming into it and there was a question whether he was fit enough and he's done a great job for the team."
