Find out what the jockeys made of their mounts after the $1,000,000 Five Diamonds Prelude (1500m) at Royal Randwick.
Rachel King (Iknowastar): “I don’t have much choice, he just does what he wants. That’s him. Again, he didn’t jump that well today. He’s just being a bit of a pest in the gates, he’s actually feeling so well, he’s probably almost too well. I nearly went to Plan B but he had other ideas.
“One good head shake and a pull of the reins, I was like, ‘Ok mate, you do you’. I let him be in control but that’s when he’s happiest. He’s just tough. I thought I was beaten, to be honest. I thought the other horse got its head down on the line, but he deserves it because he’s Mr Consistent. He doesn’t know how to run a bad race and he’s a pleasure to ride.”
Iknowastar wins the Five Diamonds Prelude
Zac Lloyd (Territory Express): “He has run enormous. I feel upset for the connections but he’ll fight hard in the Five Diamonds.”
Tommy Berry (Freedom Rally): “Lovely run from him. He was strong through the last furlong. Probably looking fort he 1800m but it will be important that he draws well where you can switch him off straight away. If you drew out it would probably be a bit sticky but we’ll worry about that if it happens.”
Chad Schofield (Galeron): “No good.”
Joao Moreira (Osipenko): “It had to make it tough coming from one of the widest gates, facing the breeze. It took part of his finishing away.”
Tyler Schiller (Amor Victorious): “I thought he was honest. He is probably looking for a bit softer surface and maybe a jump up in trip now up to maybe 1800m.”
Tim Clark (Yellow Brick): “Just over-travelled in the early and mid-stages and it just took his finish away from him but he was pretty game only beaten a length.”
Jason Collett (Holymanz): “Just had to go back from the gates. Gave them a bit of a start. Was good through the line considering we were niggling a long way out.”
Tom Sherry (Punch Lane): “Disappointing.”
Reece Jones (Strait Acer): “Needed the run under his belt. Probably travelled that little bit closer on a hot speed.”
Josh Parr (Robusto): “I just had to be far too negative from the barrier and too much work for him to do.”
Check out the replays and results from Spring Champion Stakes Day at Royal Randwick