Trainer and jockey quotes after the Group 3 The Star St Leger Stakes at Randwick on Saturday taken out by Athabascan.
Race Result:
1st: Athabascan (J O'Shea & T Charlton/T Berry) - $6.50
2nd: Wyclif (C Maher/J Collett) - $10
3rd: Waltham (M Smith/B Shinn) - $6.50
Winning Time: 2:43.28 Last 600m: 35.17
Margins: Short Head x ½L
The first feature on #TABEverest day goes to Athabascan who wins the G3 St Leger Stakes in a thriller for @JohnOSheaRacing and @TommyBerry21 @aus_turf_club pic.twitter.com/pbsmvFAJVt
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 19, 2024
Winning Trainer: John O'Shea & Tom Charlton (John speaking)
On Athabascan: "It was a great run. We've been so happy with him, we haven't been disappointed with him, but he just hasn't had circumstances to suit. Today he got them and he got the job done.
Melbourne Cup start: "That's been on our agenda all season, we just needed a positive run today to get him back in the game. I think he drops five or six kilos into the Cup and he'll run a very good race because he's a good two-miler."
On wins in the first race at Caulfield and Randwick on Saturday: "Yeah, the horses have been really good. It's so hard to win on these big days, you've got to have everything go your way, but we've had a bit of luck early so it's great."
More on the win and heading to Cup: "We've been so happy with this horse all season, he just hasn't had circumstances to suit. He got a good ride today and he showed what he's capable of. He drops significantly in weight going into the Cup, that run will top him off. We look forward to the first Tuesday in November.
Tough win, holding off Wyclif: "He did and that's a reflection that he's a two-miler. He just probably lacks the speed of a horse like Wyclif, who's got a lovely turn of speed at a mile-and-a-half but my bloke is a genuine two-miler. We'll get there in two weeks and he'll give a good account of himself."
Winning Jockey: Tommy Berry
"I actually gave him his final piece of work leading him to the Metrop and I said to John, 'you' ve got a good chance in this',but obviously they rode him forward on that day and that is probably not the way to ride him, so we just had him in a position today.
"I was mindful to keep Kerrin (Etna Rosso) where he was early, so I didn't get pushed to the fence, just because I knew I wanted to get on my bike early.
"He was incredible in the Sydney Cup and we rode him that way, switched the stick through probably four times just to keep his mind on the job, but off to the Melbourne Cup now."
"I love his tenaciousness (tenacity) when Jason Colett came up on the runner-up, and he just put him to the sword and found a way to win. Hehasn' t got a turn of foot, but he sticks on well."
Beaten Jockeys:
Adam Hyeronimus (Military Mission): "Not too sure what to make from the run."
Rachel King (Alegron): "Happy enough with him. They just dropped him a little bit at the half mile but he was good late."
Brenton Avdulla (Stockman): "He travelled well. He gave in quickly on the bend."
Tom Sherry (Trust In You): "We had a nice run through. Stuck on OK."
Kerrin McEvoy (Etna Rosso): "We got held up when the race was unfolding. Should have finished a lot closer."
Jason Collett (Wyclif): "Great effort. 26[00] is at the top end of distance for him. A tougher two miler probably out did us late."
Blake Shinn (Waltham): "Great run. Beaten for speed early. Let him relax and come into the race nicely. First two were a bit better but he's a promising stayer on the rise."
Jay Ford (Steel Blaze): "On the week back-up up in grade but acquitted himself well."
