Find out what the jockeys made of their mounts after the $1,500,000 Alan Brown Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens.
Nash Rawiller (Here To Shock): He’s a beauty. Great effort by the team to get him up here at the right time for these races. I’m sure he would have been competitive down there (in Melbourne) too but I don’t think they would have been going around for $1.5 million with him. Great foresight and congratulations to them.
“Yeah, look, he travelled really well. You want to build your momentum knowing your probably going to be left in front there a long way from home. And he didn’t really want to go on with it either, he sort of felt his job was done a bit. But what I loved was once Gringotts got to him he was there for the fight. Although he was lost in front, when he needed to he found when the chips were down.
“I said to the guys before the race, he reminds me of my old mate Cepheus that died a few weeks ago. He came here and won this race and he didn’t let us down in the Big Dance either.
“He had four goes at it. My bloke, to be fair, he actually dug his toes in a couple of times. He really wasn’t sure, he’s probably never been left in front that far from home, I’m not sure, but this place has a long run in and if you haven’t been here before it’s a bit daunting. But you’ve got to love the way he fought once Gringotts got to him.”
Here To Shock wins the Alan Brown Stakes
Tommy Berry (Gringotts): “He was a bit strong in the run today. That might have taken away his burst down the straight. He toughed it out very well. I thought I had the winner a few times but it was rock hard fit and we were only second up. He is spot on for the Big Dance.”
Sam Clipperton (Waterford): “Super run. At the 200m when I blended into it I thought he was nearly going to win but just found a couple better there having had a run or two on him fitness wise. We came here to get a big cheque and that is what he got.”
Adam Hyeronimus (Lindermann): “Horse feels great. Just needs a barrier.”
Josh Parr (Arapaho): No comment
Chad Schofield (Amenable): “We had an impossible task from the draw. He galloped to the line like a horse who wants further.”
Ryan Maloney (Semana): “Just raced very flat.”
Jay Ford (Rustic Steel): “He travelled wide from that barrier and wasn’t able to fire.”
Tyler Schiller (Belclare): “Really happy with her. She jumped and put herself into a lovely spot. Just wanted to overdo it the middle stages. Happy with the way she quickened up and probably got a touch tired late from the early burn. Going really well. If she can get into The Invitation she will be a good chance.”
Tim Clark (Converge): “He worked home OK. He will appreciate getting out over further. He was a pass mark first up.”
Kerrin McEvoy (Encap): “He has run great there. Just took him a little while to travel. He has run really well looking for further now.”
Regan Bayliss (Terra Mater): “She got squeezed out of the barriers and shuffled a pair further back than I wanted to be. I looked after her the last little bit.”
Rachel King (Iknowastar): “Super first up run. He has plenty of improvement to come.”
Ashley Morgan (Territory Express): “He was terrific at distance short of his best. He gets back like he does but charged at the line. On track for the Five Diamonds.”
Kyle Wilson-Taylor (Punch Lane): “Just the track a bit firm today. He showed signs that it was a bit hard.”
Zac Lloyd (Makarena): “Draw killed her.”
Reece Jones (Strait Acer): “He was super. First up with improvement to come.”
Check out the replays and results from Hill Stakes Day at Rosehill Gardens