Winning Horse: Icebath (Aus)
Winning Trainer: Brad Widdup (Andre Rabbett, assistant trainer, speaking)
Getting the Group 1: “She finally showed all the faith we had in her, she’s come through and got the maiden Group 1.”
“It always was (the plan). She does race well on a one week backup, she’s done that a couple of times before, and having that trip down here last year, this was always the plan.”
Tough times with floods: “It’s been an uphill battle, but the training facilities at Hawkesbury, we certainly cant complain, the polytrack is perfect to train on, our stable is safe from the floods, we got through but it’s certainly been a tough time for a lot of people.”
Aiming up: “Off her work at home we always knew she was up to this grade, she just needed things to go her way. It took a lot of faith from Brad and the owners to back her up after her last run, we just had to draw a line through that run, we got her back home, there was nothing wrong with her. Brad said we’ll send her down, hopefully things go right for her.”
Change of barriers: “Her racing pattern she does get back so.. The wide barrier wasn’t the biggest concern but we were certainly happy after the redraw.”
Winning Jockey: Craig Williams
Comment after being dislodged from Icebath soon after the line: “She’s a bit of a lady and she’s got her mannerisms and we we saw that on display.”“She did all the running to get the Group 1 and she made me do all the running to get home.”
On the run: “I’ve been watching a few replays on her and done some homework with her trainer, Brad Widdup, he’s unwell and back in Sydney.
“I went back and watch old races of this race and when I walked the track I was really happy, I could be economical. Most importantly I had the horse to deliver and she was awesome.”
Her toughness: “She’s now a Group 1 winning mare and it was great. I did tell her when she was having a moment before, ‘you’ve got nothing to worry about, you like in Australia and we’ve got the be strong, got to be brave, and got to be tough like Ukranians’.”
“And she was today.”
Training performance: “Brad Widdup, he used the same formula last year running in the Cantala, not going back against her own mare’s group, her couple of runs this preparation against Anamoe, Zaaki, the best horses. Last time looked a bit plain but as he said, maybe she just had such a hard run on those heavy tracks so give her the time, and then when she came down here, Rose who’s done the work on her said she’s really thrived.”
Final thoughts: “Most importantly the star of the show is the horse. We can’t do it without them. Their training, their education and their breeding. We’re just so privileged to be a part of their story.
“We’re only able to shine with the horses. They’re the stars of the show.”
Beaten Jockeys:
William Buick (Kissonallforcheeks): “She ran super just doesn’t stay.”
Jye McNeil (Kiku): “She lost ground at the top of the straight but was OK to the line.”
Michael Dee (Excelida): “She had the blinkers on, she travelled strong and she tried really hard.”
Josh Parr (Mirra Vision): “The gate cost us today. Good effort though.”
Damian Lane (Palaisipan): “Didn’t see out the mile today.”
Daniel Moor (Chaillot): “She’s run well and she’s in outstanding order but she might be ready to become a mum.”
Barend Vorster (Belle Plaisir): “She travelled a bit keenly through the 800 (metres), moved up nicely and then we got a bit of check through the 400 and then she just pulled out a blank.”
Damien Thornton (Yearning): “Had a tough run and probably doesn’t love the wet.”
Mark Zahra (Daisies): “No good.”
James McDonald (La Crique): “She’s a beautiful mare, probably just looking for a tad further. It’s just the way she races, she levels out really quickly, but she’s a beautiful mare, a great mover and over 2000 she’ll be very effective.”
Ben Melham (Elusive Express): “Ran well, looking for further.”
Dean Holland (She’s Licketysplit): “I thought she ran well, she was honest, we rode her to suit the weight advantage today and she’s probably better ridden with cover to show her good turn of foot late.”
John Allen (My Whisper): “She ran OK, it was just that we were back and wide and they didn’t go ver quickly so it was probably a hard race to make ground.”
Brett Prebble (Atishu): “Ran super. She got a touch held-up otherwise we probably would have been right in the placings.”
Craig Newitt (Cliff’s Art): “Ran well with not much luck.”
