Latest News

He won the very first qualifier back on February 18, and it was Victorem who handed Port Macquarie trainer Jenny Graham and jockey Ben Looker their biggest wins.

Find out what some of the jockeys made of their horses’ runs in the Country Championships Final (1400m) at Royal Randwick.

Ben Looker (Victorem): “This is my Melbourne Cup, obviously being in the bush you don’t find many progressive horses, let alone any as good as Victorem.

“I’ve just got to thank Jenny [Graham] and the owners for sticking with me the whole way along.

“I was trying to force a run that shut on me, I was just lucky that when the gap opened up the inside I just had that explosive turn of foot. I knew when I burst through he was going to be hard to beat, he’s a very good horse.”

“I think eventually he might run a mile, he’s still learning what he is doing, he just needs to relax a bit and when he does the sky is his limit.”

Victorem scores a dominant win in the Country Championships Final at Royal Randwick

Kerrin McEvoy (Don't Give A Damn): “We ended up getting a nice trail, moved into it around the corner, he just layed out a little bit in the straight, he’s battled on well to run second.”

Brooke Sweeney (O' So Hazy): “She was tough all the way through, she relaxed beautifully today. When I asked her at the top of the rise she just gave her absolute all, I couldn’t be prouder of her.”

Corey Brown (Suncraze): “He’s racing more and more like a miler, he was off the bridle the whole race, he ran well, he just didn’t hit the bridle at all.”

Mitchell Bell (Caerless Choice): “Just felt like he didn’t turn up today, completely different horse to what he was when he ran second. Disappointing.”

Robbie Fradd (Snitz): “It was a good run considering I couldn’t get cover, I was hoping I could be three deep with a bit of cover but nothing was in front of me, he was a little bit keen so I moved him up, all in all a great run from the barrier.”

Robert Thompson (My Tagoson): “He went fair but probably the quick backup just didn’t help us.”

Jay Ford (Acquittal): “Closed off really well, just the wide barrier cost us.”

Blaike Mc Dougall (Bennelong Dancer): “Super run, she’s run out of her skin. A bit out of her comfort zone being a bit close but I saw the opportunity to just be there, it was a huge run.”

Victorem dashed along the rail to win the @NewhavenPark Country Championships Final over Don’t Give A Damn and O So Hazy pic.twitter.com/vRhjjNzM3r

— The Championships (@ChampionshipsRR) April 7, 2018

Check out the replays and results for Day 1 of The Championships at Royal Randwick