Read what each of the jockeys had to say about the runs of their mounts in the 2020 Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley on Friday night.
Luke Currie on Hey Doc: “He’s a beauty. He puts himself on the speed and he tries heart out. He just brings it every time he comes to the races.
“I just thought the way the track was playing and being drawn where we were, or advantage was to be bang outside (the) lead and Bella Vella was very fast so I decided that it was probably better to come back off it because they were going so quick.”
Damian Lane on Pippie: “She just didn’t break as clean as she normally does and wasn’t as quick into stride so I was forced to use her early and it just cost me late in the race.”
Craig Williams on Kementari: “I thought he raced well. The blinkers on was a bit of a gear change for him. He stayed on but he felt like the pressure of the 1200 metres might’ve said that he’d be better suited over a little further and he can travel a bit longer. Under the circumstances I thought he still committed himself quite well tonight.”
John Allen on Trekking: “He’s run super. Maybe that hard run last week might’ve just told a little bit. That’s just offering an excuse. He tried his heart out to win.”
Mark Zahra on Brooklyn Hustle: “She ran super. It was just hard for the backmarkers tonight but I think she’s going really well.”
James McDonald on Lyre: “She ran OK. She’s looking for seven (furlongs) now and they were too fast for her.”
Jamie Kah on Bella Vella: “She had to do a bit of work early but she didn’t feel like her normal self. She felt pretty short in her action.”
Willie Pike on Dirty Word: “Sound effort. Tried hard”
Kerrin McEvoy on Splintex: “Got caught wide but he ran well.”