3 minute read

Trainer and jockey quotes after Wymark claims the Group 2 Toyota Forklifts Tulloch Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday.

Race Result:

1st: Wymark (M Freedman/T Berry) - $2.70F
2nd: Noisy Boy (T Howlett/J Ford) - $21
3rd: Saltcoats (C Waller/J McDonald) - $9.50

Winning Time: 2:02.48 Last 600m: 35.52

Margins: ¾L x ½ Neck 

Wymark makes it 4 wins in a row in the G2 Tulloch Stakes!@aus_turf_club @MFreedmanRacing @TommyBerry21 pic.twitter.com/VxObeC76mf

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 30, 2024

Winning Trainer: Michael Freedman

On the win: "I was a little bit anxious just before the corner, we were further back than we anticipated originally, but he's a quality young horse and on a day that, so far, has been very leader dominated and on pace, he's done a really good job."

"Hopefully if he gets home and eats up tonight and has a good weekend, he can go around again next week."

Pay late entry for derby?: "That would be the plan, as long as he pulls up well. They're only three once, he's had a great prep so far and it's a big carrot dangling in front of us. When you get these three-year-olds that are in really good form like he is, you've just got to go with that."

Tulloch Stakes winners have good recent record in Derby: "Historically in the last few years, this race has been a great guide to the Derby and he's bred to run close to a mile-and-a-half. I thought he ran out a really solid 2000 there on a day that might be favouring on pace so far.

On the horse sneaking under his radar: "I completely ballsed it up. I had him pegged as a 1400, miler type early on. I sent him to the Gold Coast for a maiden up there and I said to the owners, 'look it's a $250,000 maiden, I don't know if this bloke is ever going to run for $250 again'.

"He ran terrific up there and I think that trip away did do him some good. Now we've stepped his distances up he has just relished it and made me look like an idiot."

 Busy prep: "I am mindful he has been up a while. He's not showing any signs of feeling the pinch just yet, but it takes a tough horse to do what he's done."

Winning Jockey: Tommy Berry

On Wymark having to be a late entry for the Derby: "C'mon Michael, you better put your hands in your pockets mate. We've got 40 thousand to find."

On Wymark's win: "I came in after his work on Tuesday and I said to Michael, 'this horse is oozing so much confidence'. I said 'he won't get beat on the weekend'. It was just that bit of work. Last time I said to Michael one wouldn't get beat, it was Stay Inside in the (Golden) Slipper I think. So, that's how good he's been going at home."

"He was very enthusiastic today. He doesn't feel like a horse that has had a heap of runs. He's still on the 'chewie' in the run, he's feeling really good. But just with how quickly he picks them up and puts them away, and even Jay Ford said to me coming back to scale, 'I felt like I had you a few times but yours was just waiting for us and then just kept picking up and going away'. So he's got a few more gears there. "

On whether he can step up again in the Derby against some Group 1 competition: "He will. I have no doubt about it. So I can't wait. I'm not saying he'll win but he will be mighty hard to beat."

"He's just one of those stayers that, I haven't ridden a stayer that has given me a feel like this since The Offer. And he was just good the whole way through. So he's pretty good."

Beaten Jockeys:

Jamie Kah (Kintyre): "He is going really well this horse. Just needs the right run in the race. Will be pretty hard to beat once he gets a good ride."

Josh Parr (Fistsoffury): "The barrier cost us."

James McDonald (Saltcoats): "Good run."

Tim Clark (Glad You Think So): "He just ground away up the straight, tradesman-like."

Jay Ford (Noisy Boy): "Ran really well. He is really coming into his own now we are stepping up in trip.If he backs up next week in the Derby he'll run well again."

Nash Rawiller (Texas Fireball): "He had no luck in the run. Hit a flat spot when the sprint went on at the 650m mark. He is a lovely horse."

Jason Collett (Anderson Bridge): "Good late. Maybe a Queensland horse (Derby)."

Rachel King (Dunbelievin'): "Not a bad effort up in grade. Just still quite immature."

Tyler Schiller (High Dandy): "Was a little bit dour today. He didn't feel like the same horse as he felt at Wyong."

Reece Jones (Steel Blaze): "Ran through the line super. Just stuffed the start up and got too far back."

Tom Marquand (Mornington Pier): "Didn't step the fastest. Everyone had gotten a bit organised before I got into the position of the race I wanted to be. I had a tough enough run around. A jump up in grade and not the easiest run."

Sam Clipperton (Tokyo Run): "Nice horse. Just a bit outclassed at this stage."

Dylan Gibbons (Tom Cruising): "Just a non event from him today. He'll be better next time."