3 minute read
Trainer and jockey quotes following the Listed Five Diamonds Prelude won by Iknowastar at Randwick on Saturday.
Race Result:
1st: Iknowastar (B Baker/R King) - $8.50
2nd: Territory Express (P Niceforo/Z Lloyd) - $4.20
3rd: Freedom Rally (T Gollan/T Berry) - $16
Winning Time: 1:27.30 Last 600m: 34.73
Margins: Short ½ Head x ¾L
Back-to-back features for @BBakerRacing!
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 26, 2024
A @Rachelk11 special aboard Iknowastar sees the consistent galloper take the Five Diamonds Prelude at Randwick pic.twitter.com/wahyXhOnuQ
Winning Trainer: Bjorn Baker
Been a good day for the stable: "Yes it has. He's been a revelation. He had three hooves and his tail out of the door. We were about to sack him. And since then he's just turned it around completely. And he's been a great horse, he's an exciting horse. He puts the punch into races."
"You always know what you're going to get. I didn't quite know whether we'd held on but he deserves one. He's always there fighting and Rachel knows him very well. Big bunch of guys (in the ownership). I said to them before this race, after the last race, they were in interest rates. I said they don't count after you win a big race or two."
Can sustain a gallop up front: "He's got a really big engine. Sometimes you learn as you get on with horses and Rachel gets on with him extremely well too. She does a lot of work on him, and she does a lot of work at home, so it's great to see her in the winner's circle.
"She's off to America next week to ride in the Breeders Cup so she leaves on a pretty good note."
How does he feel about Five Diamonds?: "I feel pretty good. And my wife actually lost her wedding ring, and I might have to get her another few diamonds."
Winning Jockey: Rachel King
Going fast in front: "I don't have much choice, he just does what he wants. That's him. Again, he didn't jump that well today. He's just being a bit of a pest in the gates, he's actually feeling so well, he's probably almost too well. I nearly went to Plan B but he had other ideas."
"One good head shake and a pull of the reins, I was like, 'Ok mate, you do you'. I let him be in control but that's when he's happiest. He's just tough. I thought I was beaten, to be honest. I thought the other horse got its head down on the line, but he deserves it because he's Mr Consistent. He doesn't know how to run a bad race and he's a pleasure to ride."
Exciting week ahead: "Yeah, I'm really excited. I fly out to America tomorrow for the week and then I get back in time for Cup day. It's a big week to look forward to."
Beaten Jockeys:
Chad Schofield (Galeron): "No good."
Joao Moreira (Osipenko): "It had to make it tough coming from one of the widest gates, facing the breeze. It took part of his finishing away."
Tyler Schiller (Amor Victorious): "I thought he was honest. He is probably looking for a bit softer surface and maybe a jump up in trip now up to maybe 1800m."
Tim Clark (Yellow Brick): "Just over-travelled in the early and mid-stages and it just took his finish away from him but he was pretty game only beaten a length."
Jason Collett (Holymanz): "Just had to go back from the gates. Gave them a bit of a start. Was good through the line considering we were niggling a long way out."
Tommy Berry (Freedom Rally): "Lovely run from him. He was strong through the last furlong. Probably looking fort he 1800m but it will be important that he draws well where you can switch him off straight away. If you drew out it would probably be a bit sticky but we'll worry about that if it happens."
Zac Lloyd (Territory Express): "He has run enormous. I feel upset for the connections but he'll fight hard in the Five Diamonds."
Tom Sherry (Punch Lane): "Disappointing."
Reece Jones (Strait Acer): "Needed the run under his belt. Probably travelled that little bit closer on a hot speed."
Josh Parr (Robusto): "I just had to be far too negative from the barrier and too much work for him to do."
