Find out what the jockeys made of their mounts after the Group 1 $2m Schweppes Sydney Cup (3200m) at Royal Randwick.
Rachel King (Knights Order): “He was the nicest horse ever to ride over 3200m and to get one for Gai (Waterhouse) it means a lot definitely. She’s been such a huge supporter of mine and being apprentice to her for so long, it’s just fantastic to get one for Gai and Adrian (Bott) and the team.
“He actually started towing me into it at the 1000m and I know he’s fit, he’ll just keep staying. It was only if something was going to have a slightly better turn of foot and I tried to take that out of the equation from the half mile by keep stepping him up. The horse was just beautiful to ride.
“I just went Gai three-quarter pace the whole way, I should know it like the back of my hand by now having worked for her for so long. You can just trust Gai’s horses, they are so fit and so tough and you know they are going to be strong at the end of 3200m.”
Knights Order wins the Schweppes Sydney Cup
Craig Williams (Sheraz): “Chris and the stable were so bullish about this horse running to his benchmark best in Australia. He had one too fast for him and will improve.”
Kerrin McEvoy (Daqiansweet Junior): “Great run. He handled the ground well. Just got posted without cover which wasn’t ideal. Got into a lovely rhythm.”
Alysha Collett (Stockman): “Just got too far back.”
Jamie Kah (Crystal Pegasus): “They just went way too slow for him.”
William Pike (Angel Of Truth): “Once I didn’t step clean it was game over.”
Jay Ford (No Compromise): “Found a good spot. Failed to run it out.”
Robbie Dolan (Luncies): “Track was too heavy for him.”
Teodore Nugent (Future Score): “Super run by the old boy. He keeps delivering. We had a beautiful run in behind Willie Pike. He kept finding.”
Kathy O'Hara (Surefire): “Just struggled in the ground today. That was a bit too heavy for him. Going from 24 to 32 he just found it a bit too tough.”
Dean Holland (Tigertiger): “Just no good this way of going. Layed out the whole way. Never got around the corners.”
Damien Thornton (Chalk Stream): “Disappointing.”
Fred Kersley (Alakahan): “He just travelled a touch keen.”
Louise Day (Le Baol): “He ran super. The couple in front were too far gone.”
Brock Ryan (Dadoozdart): “Just didn’t see out that trip.”
Tyler Schiller (Kaapfever): “He was great today. He’s outdone himself.”
Hugh Bowman (The Chosen One): “Not today for him.”
James Innes (Sweet Thomas): “He had a beautiful run in transit. I couldn’t get around a few slower ones. He worked into a nice position but got hampered at a crucial part.”
Andrew Gibbons (South Pacific): “Once the speed went on at the 1000m he was gone.”
Check out the replays and results from Day 2 of The Star Championships at Royal Randwick