3 minute read

Trainer and jockey quotes after Divine Fire takes out the Sportsbet Restricted Series Final at the Morphettville on Saturday.

Race Result:

1st: Divine Fire (S Theordore/J Opperman) - $11
2nd: Eventually (S Rutten/K Crowther) - $3.20
3rd: Mr Trafficanti (G Young/B Price) - $19

Winning Time: 1:50.14

Margins: 2¼L x Neck

Jacob Opperman wraps up the ride of the day, taking off early aboard Divine Fire & bolting up in the Restricted Series Final pic.twitter.com/pVNmFiZywX

— Racing.com (@Racing) November 23, 2024

Winning Trainer: Stephen Theodore

What the win means since he came to SA: "It is still hard to start a business from ground zero, especially in South Australia because we're a forgotten state a little bit, at times.

"The owners have been mates of mine well before I trained for them and to give the horses to me, I appreciate it.

"It is a hard game and we devised this plan about five runs ago. We decided to run her over 2000-metres and I said that once we can confirm we can run 2000, we can win an 1800-metre race.

The tactics: "From the outside barrier I said to Jacob 'don't rush it, find your spot, have an economical run and then just let her rip.

"We're 13 runs into the prep and she's flying. We spaced the last couple of runs (so) we were confident but you also need luck. We made our own luck today.

"She did this at Balaklava four runs ago and she spaced them. He's got a lot of ability but she has her tricky days.

"Today she put in and we ticked all the boxes."

Winning Jockey: Jacob Opperman

"Last start, we did the same thing and took off. We were a bit flat coming into straight but today when we came to it she was full of running and I thought she was going to be hard to run down and she was.

"I turned to see if anything was coming. I could hear them but the job was already done by then.

"At Balaklava she ran well and the last couple of runs she has been plain. Steve has brightened her up ready to come here."

These Series races are important: "We always try and get greedy and pick our rides when these series are coming up and these races always come up pretty good. Good to get the win today."