3 minute read

Trainer and jockey quotes following the John Duff & Co The Lester won by Savoir Faire at Cranbourne on Saturday.

Race Result:

1st: Savoir Faire (M Walker/D Lane) - $6
2nd: Alder (T Busuttin & N Young/B Egan) - $41
3rd: Duke Of Condicote (C Maher/S Osborne) - $12

Winning Time: 2:04.91 Last 600m: N/A

Margins: 1-3/4L x 3/4L

Savoir Faire comes strong off the bend to storm home his first win this season @LaneDamian pic.twitter.com/ke0zvCy4Ia

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

Winning Trainer: Mark Walker (Ben Gleeson speaking)

How has it hatched to have the Donald Cup of all things up your sleeve for a race on Cranbourne Cup Day? I guess if you look at his last few months it's been a bit obscure, but he always goes well off one jump out into a race and fresh and we tried that. He's probably a little bit underdone arguably, but the plan's always been to go to the Pakenham Cup, and so we just sort of had a look at what was in between and Donald fell almost as if it was another trial for him and then this race presented perfectly, come across the road, no travel. He was third-up 2000 (metres) and I think, he was two for two and now he's three for three, so it's just planned out perfectly."

How do you assess it in the immediate aftermath? "Damian's ride was 10 out of 10, just exceptional. That's why you put good jockeys like him on. It was his first sit on the horse, and before the race we just said, get cover, let him suck up and travel as long as you can and he just did it all to a tee. Obviously it was a bit of a question mark on a good three with the horse, but in the winter he won well and Mark said we'll tip him out and give him a good period off, just let his body mature and I think that's been a massive telling tale now."

Winning Jockey: Damian Lane

A real honour to win a race named after such an iconic racing person: "He was a great guy and was a part of the industry for a long time and gave a lot to the industry, so a big thrill to win a race in his honour."

How race unfolded: "It unfolded really well. The speed was crazy. I was really happy with where I was. The chances were a part of that speed battle, so it was just great viewing from where I was and just was able to come into the race at the right time and he was too good when it counted."

Pakenham Cup aspirant? "Hopefully he can take another step forward and he can go on to that sort of level."