Kingswood won the Group 1 Caulfield Cup, hear from the beaten jockeys
William Pike (Cosmic Crusader): “I really got my hopes up turning for him. He hit the bridle, he was travelling, I really did think I was the winner. Maybe he doesn’t like being on the speed like that, I don’t know but credit to the winner today, he was too good.”
Daniel Stackhouse (Treasurethe Moment): “I thought she ran well. We just rode her to have a nice economical run, they went slow when they got up the hill, the first wave come, just waited and got on the back of the eventual winner. She picked up nice, I cut the corner and I thought she finished off well.”
Robbie Dolan (Knight’s Choice): “He actually ran OK. It was a messy race, drew wide got too far back and he’ll be better around Flemington and over a bit further.”
Thomas Stockdale (Middle Earth): “I was happy with where we ended up in the run and I was happy with how he respected the bridle on a muddling tempo. Happy with how he hit the line and he’ll improve going forward to bigger targets.”
Ray Dawson (Enfjaar): “I couldn’t have dreamed for a better run around. I thought I was going to win turning in but he hasn’t run for a while and I think he just felt the pinch inside the last 100 metres. Very proud of him and he’ll go to the Melbourne Cup now.”
Rachel King (Green Spaces): “Just a messy-run race from where we were. We got a lot of pressure early, got on the back of one going forward halfway and he worked into the race well but it just didn’t set up well for him today.”
Jamie Spencer (Royal Supremacy): “I was having a lovely run until between the five and four (furlong point) and then the race just exploded and he’d had enough at the two pole.”
Damian Lane (Wine Dark Sea): “Unfortunately he didn’t get around the track very well, he was on one-rein for most of the race, and then one took off early and it was just too early go and that just left him vulnerable late.”
Beau Mertens (Asterix): “I think he’s run terrific. I wanted to be more forward, he was just a little slow away today unfortunately, but I got on the back of Half Yours and the race was quite messy. Obviously I was blending up on the rail and there was a bit of an accident and had to didge and weave a little bit I think he stayed out the trip quite well and he ran a good, strong race.”
Craig Williams (Saint George): “My horse was great, Ciaron Maher and his stable have done a great job. The horse ran his heart out, got a very uncomplicated run from the barrier, very economical, but my thoughts, most importantly, are with the horses and riders that fell.”
Lachlan Neindorf (Starford): “He was presented in great order as always by Joseph and the team. The blinkers were a good application, they made him travel. We found a beautiful spot, down the side there was a midrace move – they weren’t going overly hard and I was happy to let the first wave go and then latch onto the second wave – I felt like I was in a poising position at the 600 and when I let his head go he just felt like he shortened stride on a firming track.”
Michael Dee (She’s A Hustler): “We were flat-footed down the side when the rush came and to her credit she kept grinding away and ran a credible race.”
Tyler Schiller (Soul Of Spain): “Wasn’t ideal having to make a mid-race move on him but the pace was just too sedate, he wouldn’t relax and I just let him creep into it, but he sustained well and hopefully he can push onto the Melbourne Cup from that.”
Ethan Brown (Zahrann): “Stepped a touch slow, I would have liked to be a touch closer, they really jammed the brakes on midway and travelled strong. I think he just lacked a bit of momentum at the right time. I felt he picked up well going down the inside and he gave me every indication that he’ll get out further in trip.”
Jabez Johnstone (Kings Valley): “He’s run a cracker. I would have loved to have drawn a gate and got a better run, unfortunately he got caught three-wide but we did have cover, settled really well, found a split and ran an excellent fifth
