3 minute read

Trainer and jockey quotes after the Evergreen Turf David Bourke Memorial at Pakenham on Saturday taken out by The Open.

Race Result:

1st: The Open (Patrick & Michelle Payne/Tom Prebble) - $6.00
2nd: Helix (Clinton McDonald/Craig Williams) - $2.70 fav
3rd: Grand Impact (Mick Price & Michael Kent Jr/Beau Mertens) - $31

Winning Time: 1:23.30 Last 600m: N/A

Margins: Half Head x Head

It's a sensational win from The Open who makes it back-to-back wins in the final race at Pakenham @mj_payne pic.twitter.com/IrdiTzF7cL

— Racing.com (@Racing) December 21, 2024

Winning Trainer: Patrick & Michelle Payne (Michelle speaking)

On the win: "Initially I was wondering if he was really wanting to stretch out, but the speed was obviously very genuine and it seems like it's suiting him. Ballarat obviously, he was this far back and he just tracked up into the race beautifully. Tom did a really good job staying on their back, peeled off when he thought he needed to and he wasn't as confident as Terry Bailey in the call, but I'm so glad to see him get home. He's just such a beautiful, honest horse and we really love him that he's just so consistent all the time."

"We'll just see how he pulls up from today and just keep monitoring him. We'd love to have a stable full of him. He's just so consistent and honest every time he gets his foot out there."

On Tom Prebble: "He just really tries hard. He's very tough on himself. He was very tough on his earlier rides and I said, look, I don't think you could've done too much else, they just didn't perform and I think that's going to hold him in good stead that he's going to make it because he analyses everything and just tries to do his very best, great way to finish the day, and we're really happy with how things are going with him."

Winning Jockey: Tom Prebble

On the win: "Just full credit to The Open, obviously, and Patrick and Michelle. He was super. We intended to land a bit closer but he's just started to switch off a lot more in his races and I think maybe the firm track today he probably felt it a little bit. So for him to go out and do that, it was pretty good."

"I had to give him a couple of roars (to get him going). I was roaring at myself as well, to be honest. So thank God it's finished on a good note."

Learning from Payne's: "Both pretty different, that's for sure. But Michelle kind of helped me today. I had a bit of a tough one. So to be able to end it, as well as actually Patrick gave me a couple of nice words. I'm just learning everything from them. I can't think of exactly one thing."

Improvement from first up: "A lot, to be honest. Stepped up to 14,00m. Billy beat me on him last start, to be able to get back on him, he's going really well."