3 minute read

Trainer and jockey quotes following The Ladbrokes Meteorite is won by Nadal at Cranbourne on Saturday.

Race Result:

1st: Nadal (C Maher/Ethan Brown) - $4.40
2nd: Rey Magnerio (R Griffiths & M de Kock/J McNeil) - $6
3rd: Baraqiel (L & T Corstens & W Larkin/B Allen) - $3 fav

Winning Time: 1:09.71  Last 600m: N/A

Margins: 2-3/4L x Short-Half-Head

"Nadal from a mile back!"

Nadal shocks the field with a storming finish to take out the inaugural The Meteorite @cmaherracing @Ethan_Brown8 pic.twitter.com/gs8noEDzVG

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

Winning Trainer: Ciaron Maher (Adrian Joyce speaking)

That is a career-best performance from Nadal: "Ethan has to get a lot of the credit because it went very hard and he had to come from a long way back. He decided, obviously as he was in the run, he didn't want to pull out wide and come with that long-range run, so he waited, and he just got the splits and he gave him a super ride. It's great for Ozzie and John and the rest of the crew involved in him. They're great supporters of the yard, of Ciaron's. It's super."

How have you seen from up close how this horse has been able to develop across the spring?" He came back in this prep, a different horse, stronger, moving really well and he's just kept improving. We've always had a lot of faith in him. He's a really nice horse and a beautiful individual as well."

Fantastic that a wonderful service like Equine Pathways is going to benefit from this victory as well: "Definitely. For organizations to be able to run a race like thisoin a small track, it's great for the business."

Winning Jockey: Ethan Brown

Talk us through your strategy: "It looked quick on paper and I did want to be a bit closer, but they kept up that genuine gallop which pushed us a pair further back. I just rode in as they started fanning around the corner and I thought we can't loop them. So, give him a click, he was right there for me, a gap presented and off he went. That was a good win, and rates much better than his win at Caulfield the other day.

You were concerned about the draw but in hindsight, given how the race got run, did it work in your favour? "It did. The track's been a bit on speed, so maybe a few connections had the same idea and it worked in our favour.

Do you think he might be capable of going into 2025? "He's very talented and he's in the right stable. They'll put him through his grades and it wouldn't surprise me to see him in a Stakes race and the horses he beat there then, it just puts the writing on the wall, doesn't it? The feeling he gave me was terrific, and I'd like to stay on his back."