Read what each of the jockeys said about their rides in the 2024 Cox Plate.
James McDonald (Via Sistina): “Just so lucky. What this mare’s been through, and she’s just an absolute star. I’m so lucky to be part of it.
“To Chris Waller and all his team, I see Tommy Simpson working on her on Tuesday morning. Chris Harwood flew down on Thursday to work her. And all of them, all of them said, ‘Excuse my French’, she’ll shit in.
“I honestly can’t believe it. I love this race. I love this place. And to win a Cox Plate with Chris Waller, who is my greatest supporter and so special. It’s so fitting he’s brought up my 100th and to do it in such a prestigious race like the Cox Plate. I’m blessed, so blessed.
“She’s got an unbelievable sustained speed. And I think it’s a huge asset to have in this high-pressure race.
“The pressure was on from the get-go, and (Pride Of) Jenni didn’t have her peace. This horse has really worked really well here, even though I fell off her on Tuesday.
“She felt like she was gliding around the course really well and I had a quiet first half, and I wheeled her out, kept her happy.
“She seems just to grow a bit of confidence, and it was a Winx like performance. I can’t believe it. I can’t believe it.”
Damian Lane (Prognosis): “He was very honest, you couldn’t have asked much more. He stepped away well and travelled great throughout the run. I was confident coming down the side I was going to be a winning chance, but Via Sistina was just in another class today. She was way too good today.”
Jamie Kah (Broadsiding): “He really surprised me at how much of a big baby he is still. He spat the bit out at the 800 and Docklands bumped him out the way and I thought we were done but he picked up and found the line fantastic. I’d say he’s an Anamoe – next year he’ll win the Cox Plate – he’s still a year away.”
Craig Williams (Mr Brightside): “I was proud of Brightside, his run was good, but when she (Via Sistina) came I couldn’t go with her and then, to his credit, I loved how he stayed on in the straight and just missed out on running third. Credit to Mr Brightside.”
Blake Shinn (Docklands): “The horse ran very well. We had a good run from barrier one, got on the back of the winner down the side and presented to challenge the placegetters – he got a little tired late – but I thought he ran really well.”
Mark Zahra (Kovalica): “He ran well. He’s a horse that doesn’t like being amongst the field, he went from travelling to stopping, but finished off all right. He ran above his price, he did well.”
Michael Dee (Royal Patronage): “He actually stuck on and tried very hard. I didn’t expect to be in front going past the post the first time and he actually wanted to hang out quite badly – I was on one rein for quite some time. He tried hard, we were beaten a long way, but he acquitted himself pretty well.”
Declan Bates (Pride Of Jenni): “Just raced a bit flat. I knew a long way out she wasn’t taking me away from them, I was having to just ask her to do it a bit. She seemed to pull up well, and hopefully she does, but a bit flat today.”
Karis Teetan (Evaporate): “He got into a beautiful rhythm down the back straight and then, once the race developed, he couldn’t handle the high pressure.”