Find out what the jockeys made of their mounts after the Group 2 $1,000,000 Precise Air Premiere Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick.
Zac Lloyd (Airman): I’ve always had a lot of confidence in this horse. But to win that race, I’m a bit surprised. I like to build my confidence before I get on a horse but I didn’t think it would work that much. But he’s a very good horse, he just hasn’t shown it this prep. We got a lovely run. He was comfortable. And he won well.
“You’ve got horses like Think About It, Bella Nipotina, Giga Kick over six furlongs and he’s beat them there with set weights. So you’d be silly not to think he was competitive for sure. He’s always had the ability, he’s just needed to put it together.
“Just maturity, I think. I’ve had a great team behind me from Godolphin, and James and Darren and my Dad, they just keep you grounded day in and day out. I’ve been working quite hard on little things on the mechanical horse at home but it’s good to see the results show."
Airman wins the Premiere Stakes
Nash Rawiller (Mazu): “He went great. Travelled really keen there at one stage but loved the way he attacked the line.”
Craig Williams (Bella Nipotina): “She was fantastic in defeat today. I love the way she is going. She stepped slowly, was ridden back off speed, and hit the line really hard.”
James McDonald (Giga Kick): “A common run but he will improve. He is building toward something. It was an OK run.”
Jason Collett (Think About It): “He was back off a slow tempo. I think he has run on very well. Just unable to make up those sectionals on good horses.”
Josh Parr (Coal Crusher): “I am pleased with his effort. I was happy with the desire that he showed early to get out of the gates like that. I think they are very very close to a peak performance again.”
Jay Ford (Bandi's Boy): “Excellent run. Obviously missed the run the other day. That was a run he needed to have before the Kosciuszko. I reckon he went super.”
Check out the replays and results from TAB Epsom Day at Royal Randwick