Trainer and jockey quotes after Spangler claims the Polytrack Provincial-Midway Championships Final at Randwick on Saturday.
Race Result:
1st: Spangler (K Lees/J McDonald) - $12
2nd: Loch Eagle (K Lees/D Gibbons) - $6
3rd: Cross The Rubicon (B Widdup/J Collett) - $101
Winning Time: 1:24.76 Last 600m: 35.80
Margins: 4¾L x Short Head
What. A. Win.
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 8, 2023
Spangler stuns in the Provincial-Midway Championships Final with a sensational steer from @mcacajamez!@Leesracing trains the quinella. pic.twitter.com/1J59fS0Ash
Winning Trainer: Kris Lees
On qualifying for the final and the ride: "He qualified, just snuck in at Newcastle and thought well he's looking for a mile to be fair to the horse. We went back, took our medicine early. Great James McDonald special through the pack and he really launched at them late, so pleasing to see."
"He drew 17 and next thing you know he's third the fence coming to the corner, so it was a pretty good ride. It 's good to get one (a good ride) out of him (James McDonald)."
On his association with owners Australian Bloodstock: "They've been hugely beneficial for my stable, we work in well together. They're Newcastle boys and I'm very proud of everything they achieve. Not only my stable, but what they do all around the world these days. I'm very lucky to be a beneficiary of some of their horses."
On performing in the Provincial Championships: "We've got a big stable, we need to have horses in these races. It's a great concept, it's been well received. There are 60 people in that horse so it's a great thrill."
On the future: Hopefully we can see him back here. He ran second in a Ballina Cup so he could end up in a Big Dance. He appreciated the ground today to be fair, he's got plenty of upside."
Winning Jockey: James McDonald
On handling the conditions: "He was there for me, I think he really really enjoyed that ground. The way he let go, he could've done another lap the way he was charging through the line."
"Obviously he's had the writing on the wall, a fit horse. Handles these heavy conditions and I think that just says how hard work the track is because he's a really good wet tracker and he got through it really well. It's testing work out there, it's really gluey but I had a horse that was there for me."
On getting the ride: "Kris Lees is obviously a great supporter as well, (he) really targets this race with great numbers so well done."
On the owners: "To Australian Bloodstock who put a lot of money into the game as well, they buy a lot of horses overseas and they deserve the results they get."
On his explosive turn of foot late: "Quite surprising actually, especially when I thought he was looking for a little bit further."
Beaten Jockeys:
Andrew Adkins (Audette): "Very disappointing. Ended up in a nice spot but couldn't deliver when the pressure was on. Might not have handled the back up."
Dylan Gibbons (Loch Eagle): "Wasn't entitled to run second."
Tyler Schiller (True Crime): "He ran to his best. He's just run into a really good field."
Brenton Avdulla (Kayobi): "He ran well. Presented to win the race but I reckon when I let him off the chain he struggled to lengthen. Ability has got him to run fourth."
Joao Moreira (Willinga Freefall): "Disappointing. Didn't do his best today because the track is a bit soft."
Tim Clark (Phearson): "He didn't step great and got back and raced greenly. It was a train wreck really."
Nash Rawiller (Cloudland): "He's not a bad type of horse. Just has to learn to be a racehorse."
Winona Costin (Herb): "Got into a really good rhythm. Hit the line well."
Alysha Collett (Short Shorts): "She really struggled to let down on that ground today. Needs the track a bit firmer to use her speed to advantage."
Chad Schofield (Essonne): "Got put on the rail early. From then on we were always looking for runs. Never fully tested."
Kerrin McEvoy (Sebrenco): "Good run by her today."
Jason Collett (Cross The Rubicon): "She gave a bit of cheek there darting through."
Jenny Duggan (Denetta): "She ran a great race. She was a bit fresh today. Bottomed out 200m out."
Hugh Bowman (Cruel Summer): "Actually ran quite well really."
