3 minute read

Trainer and jockey quotes following the Listed Racing and Sports Century Stakes won by Way To The Stars at Flemington on Thursday.

Race Result:

1st: Way To The Stars (M Smith/N Rawiller) - $16
2nd: Spacewalk (J Cummings/B Melham) - $8.50
3rd: Recommendation (C Maher/B Shinn) - $6

Winning Time: 56.87

Margins: ¾L x Long Neck

Winning Trainer: Matthew Smith

"That was a good solid effort there today. Nash gets on with him really well and he rode a really good race on him today.

"I thought this would be the last run for the prep. He's had a few runs now but he's actually stood up really well through the prep. He's getting a bit older and a bit more seasoned and he's putting his runs together now. He's a bit more consistent.

"It's nice when you get a jockey that likes the horse, they want to ride him and it' s great to get the win here today.

"We got on the wrong side of it lately in the last couple of runs where we haven't got to the outside of horses and I think drawing out with this horse, particularly, because he gets out there on his own, he bowls along and I think it was a braw for us, really. It won us the race, I think.

"Nash is on board saying to me he should be winning stakes races. I thought I'd give him a shot at it today."

Winning Jockey: Nash Rawiller

On plotting the wide path: "He jumped well. I think it was a bonus for him being drawn out. Plan was to sort of go four off the outside fence. Get him into his comfort zone. He is a real speed horse. Tends to overdo it himself. It was a master class bringing him down here for this race. He has always promised a lot, not that he's delivered and today he was right back to his old self.

"He's a hard going horse and if you get him into his own rhythm. He got into his own rhythm. He really extended well.

"From day one he has shown signs that he could be up there with class sprinters. On his day he can be, especially over 1000 metres. He is still learning his craft. He still does a bit wrong. He duked in under me and made it awkward for us over the last 100 metres.

"He's a horse I've got a lot of time for and I'm sure I'll win a good race on him one day."

On the return to form: "Look I've always felt he could be competitive in a better sprint race. He did that first up with little Rachel (King) where he ran third in that good race and good to see him bounce back to form today."

On winning in Cup Week: "Always nice to be down here. All my family is down this way so it is great."