3 minute read
Trainer and jockey quotes after Nation State takes out the Reed Cranes & Haulage Handicap at Cranbourne on Saturday.
Race Result:
1st: Nation State (J Moloney/B Mertens) - $16
2nd: Snappy Secret (D Chapman/J Maskiell) - $14
3rd: Dual Pressure (M Ellerton/D Lane) - $4.40
Winning Time: 1:17.65 Last 600m: N/A
Margins: Neck x Half-Neck
Nation State continues the leaderish trend at Cranbourne to make it two wins from his last three starts @beau_mertens pic.twitter.com/IRKCJvxWQ6
— Racing.com (@Racing) November 23, 2024
Winning Trainer: John Moloney
What happened at Flemington? We thought it was going to be actually the fast lane down there but it turned into the slow lane. I don't know whether I aerate that track or not as it was certainly a slow ground for him, so we just had to put a line through it and look onwards and upwards and take our chance today."
Emboldened by how the track's been playing early on? "absolutely. We still didn't know how many would try and take up the pace, but we were pretty confident this horse would get up on pace and he got that great run and it suits our horse to do that. He loved it, and he found it when it counted."
Is there a bit more in this guy? "I'd like to think so. I've had a couple of All Too Hard's and they just keep producing a little bit of form as they get on with life. So they're handy horses to have. They might not be the stars, but they're handy and they keep giving a bit. So that's what we like about him. He's nice and sound and he's actually performed better than a few of mine like Imperial Lad who turned into a good horse at the same stage. He took about eight runs to win a race and this horse is doing it better earlier in life."
Winning Jockey: Beau Mertens
A different 45 minute lead in: "When we saw the smoke we were a bit up in the air as to what was going to happen, but they got it under control quickly which was great for the horses as well sitting out the back and the jockeys all sitting out the back wasting."
Make of Flemington from afar? "I had my first sit on him at Ballarat. It was a tenacious win. I thought he was beaten three times and he kept fighting back. He didn't seem himself at Flemington, so it was good to see him bounce back today. The intentions weren't to lead on him, but Cranbourne, a fast track, it's better to be on the speed so I just went with him."
