What the $5m Caulfield Cup jockeys said

CAULFIELD CUP JOCKEYS’ COMMENTS

Damian Lane (Mer De Glace) 1st : “He’s not much to look at but he’s just a tradesman at turning up and winning. I’m just so rapt he’s done the job for everyone today. I’m just forever grateful that they brought him out here.”

Craig Williams (Vow And Declare) 2nd : “Wow, he was fantastic. The stable was really confident coming into today. He clearly delivered the same form, if not a better performance than his Turnbull (Stakes) run and he’s just really going to eat up two miles at Flemington.”

Ben Melham (Mirage Dancer) 3rd : “He ran a really creditable race. He had a good run in transit … just had to do a little bit of barging to get out. When he got out, he savaged the line well.”

Luke Nolen (Constantinople) 4th : “He was terrific. It was just a muddling run race … a big striding horse, it was just against us a bit from an inside draw. Look at the silver lining, he doesn’t get a penalty for the Melbourne Cup and he’ll be suited at Flemington. I can’t wait for two weeks’ time.”

Michael Walker (Finche) 5th : “The horse ran super. He got around Caulfield good, no problems but I still think he’s better at Flemington with the longer straight. He settled beautiful and he’s on track for the Melbourne Cup.”

Damien Oliver (Mustajeer) 6th : “He ran a good race. It was a pretty muddling run race. He was on the back of the winner on the turn but (it) had far too much acceleration for him.

Brad Rawiller (Hartnell) 7th : “He ran great … we got into a good run but just down the side we needed to make a move but then he just didn’t get any luck in the straight.”

Patrick Cosgrave (Red Verdon) 8th : “He ran well. It got a little messy in the straight but a nice run, I thought.”

Stephen Baster (The Chosen One) 9th : “I thought he ran really well. I thought we were a chance coming round the home turn.”

James Winks (Sound) 10th : “He worked with me today and as you could see on the corner, he looked like he was going to be right in it, but he just got poleaxed.”

John Allen (Mr Quickie) 11th : “He was rearing in the barriers again and stepped a bit slowly. He just got knocked down in the home straight, there was nowhere to go. If we’d got the right run through, he’d have gone close.”

Mark du Plessis (Gold Mount) 12th : “He went really good … he got a lovely run, settled good, finished it off good. Should be a good (Melbourne) Cup prep.”

Beau Mertens (Wolfe) 13th : “We had a lovely lead. Definitely a good run considering he backed up from Wednesday so I was very happy with him.”

Michael Dee (Brimham Rocks) 14th : “Had no luck. We were instructed to go forward and tried our best to get cover but wasn’t able to do so.”

Dean Yendall (Angel Of Truth) 15th : “Probably a forget run. I thought I was following the right horse in the run but he never took me anywhere and we ended up in an awkward spot.”

Dwayne Dunn (Rostropovich) 16th : “The start was very costly, I was always battling to get back in the race.”

Cory Parish (Qafila) 17th : “I got in a good position and I was happy with the way she travelled. It was a tough ask, I was happy with her.”

Brett Prebble (Big Duke) 18th : “He was in a nice position but he’s gone amiss, I think. He pulled up really quickly.”