Atishu takes out the Champions Stakes. Picture: Racing Photos
CHAMPIONS STAKES - JOCKEY COMMENTS
James McDonald (Atishu): “Horses don’t run that well and not win, so to run second behind a horse (last week) that franked the form in the previous, when I walked out to Chris for the instructions I said, ‘we’re on a winner, I reckon’.
“We’ve just got to do the little things right and get the splits when we need it. She was fantastic, unbelievable.
Safeguarding the run and win: “As the days go on, all the jockeys are there zoning in. They’re not asleep at the wheel. We’ve seen a rush from outside gates, goes forward and generates pace.
“When West Wind Blows hightailing it around the outside it only generates speed. We were in a good position and we were on the back of the right horse and she went bang.
Her progress since last year: “It has been phenomenal. She’s beautifully bred by Savabeel, stays well, stays the ten furlongs beautifully and she’s as tough as boots. It was great to be back on her back.”
Damien Oliver (Duais): “She went great. She had a good run, but the winner was just a bit too good for us today.”
Billy Egan (Young Werther): “He ran super. He just didn’t have a lot of luck coming into the straight, no fault of his own, and then he did a really good job rebound off that and pick himself up and get to the line.”
Jamie Kah (Zaaki): “He ran great. It was a muddling-run race for him. Jamie Spencer’s horse led and went to the front, it would have made it easier, but he went inside, outside the whole time. He just needed a nice smooth run, but he ran well.”
Blake Shinn (Buckaroo): “He ran really well. I loved the feel he gave me, this horse. His second run in Australia, he ran fifth. He acquitted himself really well and he has a bright future.”
"When I walked out to see Chris for the instructions, I said 'We're on a winner here I reckon'." @mcacajamez caps off an incredible Cup Carnival with victory in the Champions Stakes 👏 pic.twitter.com/UDwA4YN6WB
— Racing.com (@Racing)
November 11, 2023
Mark Zahra (Prowess): “She just battled today, no turn of foot.”
Kerrin McEvoy (Huetor): “He’s run really well. We just had to come back from the gate and then we just rode the rail. We had to give them a start, but he did his best work up the running.”
Michael Dee (Montefilia): “I feel at this stage of her prep, the 2000 (metres) might be a bit sharp for her, but I felt she rounded the race off.”
Jamie Spencer (West Wind Blows): “He had to enter the barriers a couple of times and I’m not sure that helped. He was slow away and overall was disappointing.”
Ben Melham (Zeyrek): “He ran OK, but he’s probably suited by a drop back in class.”
Ben Allen (Pinstriped): “Little bit disappointing, but he feels to me that he might be at the end of his prep.”
WATCH: Atishu takes out the Champions Stakes at Flemington