Find out what the jockeys made of their mounts after the Group 1 $1,500,000 TAB Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Royal Randwick.
Chad Schofield (Ceolwulf): “It’s a good thrill. I was very confident today but an Epsom is a really hard race to win, you need everything to go right. I didn’t feel everything quite went perfectly, I wasn’t in a great spot. I thought I’d be much closer than where I was and the pace was quite muddling, but one good aspect of that was that I was a bit wide and able to flow.
“I was really blown away by his turn of foot. I know he had 54kg but he put the race away very quickly. As soon as I clicked him up, I was confident I was the winner immediately. He had a blistering turn of foot.
“I’ve only been back in Australia for two full seasons, so although that was my last Australian Group One, I was in Hong Kong for seven years and they’re hard to win over there. I still feel like I’m finding my feet here back in Australia, but I’m so thankful to Joe and his stable for giving me the opportunity today. I know this was a very sought-after ride and thanks to the whole team and the owners.
“They were very confident too. Even Brave, Joe’s son, sent me a message during the week saying how well he was and I thought in the parade ring he looked a million dollars. I’m a bit surprised how immature he is still, he’s still quite a young, boisterous horse. But, Wow, he’s got a serious engine.”
Ceolwulf wins the Epsom
Tommy Berry (Tom Kitten): “We aimed for a bit of cover anywhere. We ended up getting that from My Oberon. He has done a good job. Obviously the winner had the drop on us and the last shot. An honest effort by my bloke.”
Tim Clark (Royal Patronage): “Excellent performance. A hard thing to do to face the breeze and was very courageous.”
Nash Rawiller (My Oberon): “He was extremely tough. No favours in the run. To his credit he got into a nice rhythm. Just covered too much ground with the big weight.”
Jason Collett (Detonator Jack): “Disappointing.”
James McDonald (Kovalica): “He is going super. Just held up a fraction at the top of the run. He burst through and ran well.”
Josh Parr (Rediener): “I butchered him.”
Kerrin McEvoy (Democracy Manifest): “We had a nice trip around. He finished really well. Wasn’t beaten far. Might go a little further now.”
Dylan Gibbons (Nugget): “Rapt with the run he had. Just lacked that customary turn of foot he has. He was just fair.”
Ashley Morgan (Berkshire Shadow): “I thought he was terrific. He’s a horse who wants 10 furlongs now. Hit the line well.”
Jay Ford (Loch Eagle): “Didn’t fire today.”
Winona Costin (Major Beel): “Great run. She showed a lot of fight.”
Craig Williams (Chrysaor): “Was a little bit keen throughout. I felt the 1600m under the pressure of today’s race found him out on face value.”
Zac Lloyd (Molly Bloom): “A bit disappointed with her. She travelled really well. Lovely smooth run for he on the back of Kovalica and when they quickened she lacked that turn of foot at the 400m leaving her flat footed.”
Andrew Adkins (Arctic Glamour): “She went super. I thought she was home at the 250m. A couple a bit better than her today.”
Rachel King (Mchale): “I was happy with him. Just had to get a long way back from the gate. Hit the line well.”
Reece Jones (Ausbred Flirt): “Travelled a lot closer with blinkers on. Just didn’t let down.”
Cejay Graham (Kintyre): “Great run. Just raced a little bit keen early and told on him late.”
Mark Du Plessis (Firestorm): “Got a lovely run on the back of the winner. She actually finished off quite well. Very dour from the 400m to the 200m.”
Alysha Collett (Galeron): “Just not quite up to that lot. Tried very hard.”
Check out the replays and results from TAB Epsom Day at Royal Randwick