Trainer and jockey quotes after the TCL TV Handicap at Flemington on Saturday won by Le Don De Vie.
Race Result:
1st: Le Don De Vie (J McNeil/C Maher & D Eustace) - $81
2nd: Tuvalu (J Fry/L Smith) - $1.95F
3rd: Don't Doubt Glory (C Hefel/J Welsh) - $26
Winning Time: 1:35.86 Last 600m: N/A
Margins: ½ Neck x ½ length
Winning Trainer: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace (stable rep Jack Turnbull speaking)
Unexpected win: "We were hopeful first up over a mile, we were wanting him to find the line and he's definitely done so. Big credit to the Ballarat team, Andrew Bobbin did a lot of work with him early at his farm and the team up at Ballarat have done the polish."
First up over a mile: "We thought if we had him ready this time of year we could go up to Queensland through Sydney there are options he potentially may go to. Soft tracks he loves, he loves to get up over further. He's in fine fettle and hopefully he can keep going."
Next run: "There's a mile-and-a-quarter race in Sydney (W J Mckell Cup, 18th June) where he'll go next, all being well."
Winning Jockey: Logan McNeil
Coming into the straight: "I always thought he was going to have a good finish, he travelled well coming around the bend. We were just sort of waiting for a run but when the split came he really got running and hit the line well. He's a horse that should improve on it and go onto better things."
Improvement to come: "He's always going to improve, 1600m first up and generally wants more ground but Ciaron and Dave and the team have done a super job with him and he was ready to go today."
"I'm really loving the opportunities I'm getting and hopefully keep them coming."
