Kahayla Classic
28 March 2015, Dubai ~ Quotes for the US$1m Dubai Kahayla Classic empowered by IPIC
Dane O’Neill (jockey, Manark (FR), 1st) – “It’s nice to do it for the boss Sheikh Hamdan, who is here. I just wanted him to relax, wherever that happened to be. He wasn’t doing a lot in front and won quite well.”
Erwan Charpy (trainer, Manark (FR), 1st) – “He’s normally so buzzy. He’s was so cool in the pre-parade that I was starting to worry but then he came alive. We were drawn three on a lively track so I told Dane not to worry if he made the running. I couldn’t relax until the line because I’ve been close before and caught in the final strides.”
Joel Rosario (jockey, Valiant Boy (FR), 2nd) – “I got blocked at one stage and wanted to be closer to the pace but it didn’t happen. He’s run great and faced the kick back perfectly. It rode like a good race.”
Kieren Fallon (jockey, Raaziq (FR), 3rd) – “He’s run a great race. If I had asked him sooner, it might have been different, but it’s hard to tell.”
Richard Mullen (jockey, Djainka Des Forges (FR), 4th) – “Travelled lovely. Had a smashing run. Just when I wanted her to lengthen, she just started to scramble and she’ll be better next year.”
Adrie De Vries (jockey, Abu Alabyad (FR), 5th) – “He’s a mile and a half horse and a turf horse. I gave him a chance to go on today, last time I forced him a little too much. I gave him a chance. He handled the kickback, he made up a lot of ground. He just needs an extra two furlongs.”
Royston Ffrench (jockey, Af Lafeh (AE), 6th) – “My horse ran OK but the winner was always going to win if he stayed, and he did.”
Pat Dobbs (jockey, Callateral (US), 7th) – “I was never on the bridle.”
Tadhg O’Shea (jockey, Richlore (US), 8th) – “She comes from behind. She was a long way back. She wasn’t good enough.”
Szczepan Mazur (jockey, Vulcain Du Clos (FR), 9th) – “They went very fast and I was always at the back.”
Cristian Demuro (jockey, Myra De Monlau (FR), 10th) – “She ran for the first time on the dirt and she didn’t like it too much. She ran OK.”
Harry Bentley (jockey, Taraf (QA), 11th) – “I was off the bridle 800m out and struggling. The surface might have been a concern but she’s had a long season.”
Richard Hughes (jockey, Maseh ASF (GB), 12th) – “Just not good enough.”
Wayne Smith (jockey, Bigg N Rich (US), 13th) – “I travelled up there nicely but from five furlongs out, my horse went a little bit wrong and he’s come back slightly lame.”
Paul Hanagan (jockey, Versac PY (FR), 14th) – “I was never happy going straight from the gate. Halfway down the back straight it was time to call it a day. He was never ever happy. He should have been travelling better. I took care of the horse.”
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