3 minute read
Trainer and jockey quotes following the Group 2 3 Point Motors Fillies Classic won by Skybird at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
Race Result:
1st: Skybird (B Mertens/M Freedman) - $3.40F
2nd: Grinzinger Belle (Z Purton/D O'Brien) - $11
3rd: Carina Queen (M Dee/G Begg) - $7
Winning Time: 1:37.01 Last 600m: N/A
Margins: ½ Neck x ¾L
"What a win!"
— Racing.com (@Racing) October 28, 2023
The spring of @Freedmanmitch continues with Skybird coming from the back of the pack & flying home in the G2 Fillies Classic pic.twitter.com/oepqqG3vgh
Winning Trainer: Mitchell Freedman
"She's very handy and very well handled. He had to be patient but before the race I said to him that we're going to leave it up to you, if you go inside them and try and get it done that way, so be it. She's pretty tractable and knows how to get through them,
"I thought Craig Williams (Broadcaster) and Mick Dee (Carina Queen) were the horse to try and get on the back of and pick our way that way. It turned out they were right in from of him.
"I walked the track earlier in the day and I knew it was going to be tricky for her.
"Great ride. He (Mertens) can't do much wrong for us at the moment.
"How good to get a winner on Cox Plate Day. We did it four years ago and good to do it again."
Winning Jockey: Beau Mertens
"The plan was, with the barrier and with her natural pattern she gets back, but it was obviously always going to be a bit tricky but we did a bit of work on it and thought we'd get the nice run blending into it going around them or be a bit daring and try and go through the middle.
"When I found Carina Queen's back I was happy with that and was lucky enough for that horse to take me into the race when I was just tracking the leader's back. Gee she was impressive.
Responds when asked: "She's got a bit of a response. Even last start at Bendigo, I said to Mitch if I finished a length off them I would have been happy. She's gone ahead and won by two (lengths) eased down.
"When you asked her to go she really goes and it was probably a big benefit that she came around here on Tuesday and had a good look at everything and was able to get a guide on the track.
"She's such a professional and handles herself so well."
