3 minute read
Trainer and jockey quotes following the Group 3 Toyota Forklifts Craven Plate won by Zeyrek at Randwick on Saturday.
Race Result:
1st: Zeyrek (M, W & J Hawkes/T Schiller) - $9.50
2nd: Renaissance Woman (B Baker/J Parr) - $4.60
3rd: Skyman (C Waller/K McEvoy) - $26
Winning Time: 1:49.10 Last 600m: 34.08
Margins: Half Head x Neck
Zeyrek nails Renaissance Woman right on the wire in a thrilling edition of the Craven Plate!@G1TySchil with a well timed ride for @HawkesRacing. pic.twitter.com/LC47dach2l
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 28, 2023
Winning Trainer: Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes (Michael Hawkes speaking)
On the riding instructions: "He was supposed to be ridden cold last start and unfortunately didn't get the best of rides in the King Charles."
"It was a tough effort and today, there wasn't a lot of pace, people were a little bit worried about that but I just said to Tyler (Schiller) 'you've got to ride the horse' and have a bit of confidence."
On the horse: "We've always had a high opinion of him, it's just trying to get the best out of him. His runs have been really good this campaign and I believe if he doesn't run fourth in the King Charles he is thereabouts."
On the win: "Today was a lot easier race obviously, Tyler just stalked them. When it got to about the 600m I said to my wife Clare 'if he can't win today he never will'.".
On the ride: "Tyler just nursed him and the horse found great late. It was like the real Zeyrek. He's put in a couple of good preps now, typical European horse, they do just take that time. It's a nice race to win, it's worth $750,000."
On what's next: "We'll just see how we go, there is no real rush for him. It's a good place to be Sydney at the moment, with the prize money so we'll just see what happens."
Winning Jockey: Tyler Schiller
On snagging back to last: "That's where I wanted to be. John and Michael Hawkes and the team said 'he's better ridden cold'. I knew there wasn't too much pace today so to go back and make up that much ground, I think he's done a terrific job.
On the run in transit: "I was always confident following Renaissance Woman (2nd) that we were going to get the right tow into the race, it was just whether we had enough turn of foot to beat them. In the end he did and I thought he might've got there a little bit too soon but he was strong late."
On his confidence on the line: "I was. I felt like I got there at the 200m and he just floated for a bit but he really surged late and dug in."
On what's next: "Hopefully the Gold Cup next week."
