Group 1 Champagne Stakes: Beaten jockeys

Tim Clark rode Fireball to a gutsy win, hear from the beaten jockeys:

James McDonald (Campione D’italia): “He is an outstanding colt. He is still a work in progress. He has come a long way to win the Sires which was tremendous. He just went down fighting today. With even luck through the midstages, he probably would have won the race.”

Kerrin McEvoy (Zambales): “He ran well. Might have just felt that ground the last bit.”

Dylan Gibbons (Southend): “They flew early. Got into a nice rhythm. Then when they really backed it off, the ones in front of us got really keen. We were in a shuffle up and it made it hard to chase them.”

Adam Hyeronimus (Diameter): “A huge run. Might have peaked late. The mile again on the back up.”

Chad Schofield (Persian Wonder): “We were back and couldn’t get into it. He has had a long prep. Probably had enough. But he has 3yo written all over him.”

Ethan Brown (Don’t Look Back): “Worked early, gave a nice kick. Will come back a better 3yo.”

Nash Rawiller (Nomadic): “He is a lovely horse. Another three months’ time under his belt, he can come back and prove to be right up to these horses.”

Jamie Melham (Am I Dreaming): “Nothing went right for him.”

Regan Bayliss (Miss Chanel): “Had a lovely run. She got fatigued from the 550m onwards and came off the bit. Has come off a long campaign.”

Craig Williams (Grinzinger Heart): “She was a little bit plain today on face value. There was a lot more pressure than we thought. Maybe the case the way the races have been run. Had a good day at the races but didn’t run to our expectations. Sets her up to be a nice staying filly in the Spring.”

Zac Lloyd (Sumac): “A nice filly to ride. Will make a nice staying filly as a 3yo.”