3 minute read
Trainer and jockey quotes after the Group 3 Kevin Heffernan Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday taken out by King Magnus.
Race Result:
1st: King Magnus (T Stockdale/R Griffiths & M de Kock) - $5
2nd: Unusual Culture (C Williams/C Maher & D Eustace) - $6.50
3rd: Vilana (J Kah/J Cummings) - $1.85 fav
Winning Time: 1:26.66 Last 600m: N/A
Margins: 3/4 lengths x Nose
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— Racing.com (@Racing) December 2, 2023
King Magnus charges home in the G3 Kevin Heffernan Stakes @GriffithsdeKock pic.twitter.com/hxYZKoVpDA
Winning Trainer: Robbie Griffiths & Matthew de Kock (Griffiths speaking)
Special day: "He is like an ATM, that's what we always say about Magnus, Magnus means money and he keeps delivering 'The King', a good day to do it, it's my anniversary today."
"It's a great race to win because Kevin Heffernan was a dear friend and we've tried a few times to win this and run second so to win with The King and in partnership with Matt and on my anniversary, it's a pretty special day."
Conditions to suit: "We are going to be rewarded and the proof's in today's win, there's not many owners and trainers that cheer for Winter conditions on the second day of Summer but it suited The King and it suited us."
Option to come here: "We wanted to have a crack at it (today) but in saying that we were in at Kilmore last week and they got called off so probably a blessing in disguise that it worked out."
"Whether he has more runs depends on his recovery but in himself he's got a lot to offer."
On Stockdale: "He rode him a treat. The game plan was to try and be in the one-one and move in at the right time and everything worked perfectly so kudos to Tom."
Winning Jockey: Thomas Stockdale
Group winner: "It means a lot, I've managed to pull off a stakes win in Adelaide but to do it in Melbourne is a whole other thrill so to come out of my apprenticeship and to have things go the way they've gone and get the support from such good stables, to get on a horse like him and win a Group race three weeks out of my time is pretty special."
On the horse: "He just tries so hard, he's just a little horse but he's got plenty of heart, it was probably a blessing that Kilmore got called off and he came here today and with the wet track is just increased his chances and with the spot in running that we had tracking Unusual Culture into the race, he was just travelling through that ground so well, he's was always bolting underneath me."
