The beaten jockey comments after the three Group 1 features at Flemington.

FLEMINGTON

Group 1 - Darley Champions Sprint

(3yo+ WFA - 1200m)

Race Result:

1st: Sunshine In Paris (Neasham & Archibald/J McDonald) - $5.00
2nd: Right To Party (A & S Freedman/J McNeil) - $31
3rd: Bella Nipotina (C Maher/C Williams) - $4.40F

Winning Time: 1:09.25 

Margins: Short-Head x Short-Head

Beaten jockey comments:

Mark Zahra (Giga Kick): "They probably didn't go as quick as we'd hoped and he did pull his way into not a bad spot but just left me nothing to finish off with." 

Josh Parr (Overpass): "Lacked his usual turn-of-foot and was a little bit soft the last bit. No apparent reason after the race."

Dylan Browne Mcmonagle (I Am Unstoppable): "I didn't jump good, but I got into a good rhythm quick, I travelled well to the halfway but I didn't find much under pressure."

Ben Allen (Baraqiel): "I thought he ran well. He's just more effective around a bend."

Craig Williams (Bella Nipotina): "She's a phenomenal racehorse and what we've asked her to do, you can see how she's so competitive again today. What a great and amazing mare and looking forward to when she comes back."

Nash Rawiller (Lady Laguna): "Raced a little bit upside down today unfortunately."

Ben Melham (Estriella): "Just struggles at six-furlongs in this company but I think now that she's a bit older, I think next preparation if they started riding her a bit patiently she'll be ok."

Jye McNeil (Right To Party): "Absolutely terrific run. To give those horses that start and finish like she did, I thought was a great effort."

Luke Nolen (Stretan Angel): "Very good run. I think there's another race for her at the end of the year and she's in great order."

Damian Lane (Private Life): "He ran great. Acquitted himself well and handled himself professionally. Just beaten for a turn-of-foot but was really getting home well late."

Michael Dee (Bellatrix Star): "She travelled well and then when the pressure came on she just didn't raise it up. See how she pulls up."

Group 1 - VRC Champions Mile

(3yo+ WFA - 1600m)

Race Result:

1st: Mr Brightside (Team Hayes/C Williams) - $5
2nd: Antino (T Gollan/M Zahra) - $8
3rd: Fangirl (C Waller/J McDonald) - $5

Winning Time: 1:36.02 

Margins: Long Neck x Long Neck

Beaten jockey comments:

Nash Rawiller (My Oberon): "Obviously he didn't put his best foot forward today. He travelled in a beautiful spot, just didn't give the kick that he normally does and really there was no need to knock him around after that. He didn't quite turn up today and he might have had enough."

Ben Allen (Pinstriped): "He got quite wide. It was a quality field, he still ran super but I feel like he's better around Caulfield."

Mark Zahra (Antino): "He ran a great race, had a great turn of foot, he (Mr Brightside) just sort of come out nowhere on the inside. He's a good horse Mr Brightside."

Dylan Browne Mcmonagle (New Energy): "He ran well, travelled in the run strong, they didn't go overly quick - I thought we'd go a bit quicker, which was going to suit my fella - but I had to check 300 metres out and go again but h's found the line good ad hit it hard so plenty of promise there and hoping he'll keep improving."

Josh Parr (Von Hauke): "He actually performed quite well. I switched back to the inside, which probably wasn't the right thing to do, but he finished the race off well."

Ben Melham (Pride Of Jenni): "Unfortunately she's just had a little bleed."

James McDonald (Fangirl): "She was super, she really put her best foot forward and ran really well."

Damian Lane (Amelia's Jewel): "She ran great, just probably a touch close to that hot speed. She presented really well but just a little bit of a sitting duck and it's taken a few good ones to go past her, so I thought she was brave and she was honest."

Chad Schofield (Stefi Magnetica): "She's run a terrific race. We had a beautiful run, we got the gap at the right time, she sprinted and fought very well. I thought to get beat a length by them is very good considering she's a horse on the way up."

Michael Dee (Broadsiding): "He absolutely flew the gates today, so with the way he jumped ad with the weight I thought we were better off to roll forward, he travelled lovely but just probably couldn't handle that pressure today."

Group 1 - TAB Champions Stakes

(3yo+ WFA - 2000m)

Race Result:

1st: Via Sistina (C Waller/J McDonald) - $1.60F
2nd: Atishu (C Waller/J McNeil) - $8
3rd: Without A Fight (A & S Freedman/M Zahra) - $13

Winning Time: 2:01.86 

Margins: 2-3/4 x 2L

Beaten jockey comments:

Mark Zahra (Without A Fight): "Went super. Couldn't be happier with a return like that. Followed Via Sistina, was a good solid run race but I was able to quick up behind her for most of the straight and then she left him late. He'll benefit from that and I think he'll be very hard to beat in Hong Kong in that race."

Harry Coffey (Duke De Sessa): "He wasn't the same today but maybe the track was a bit fast for him. Obviously likes when it is a bit softer but maybe today the surface (and) after a peak performance the other day may have brought him undone."

Ben Melham (Arapaho): "He ran terrific. Just the draw was of no favour to him. If he does draw a gate and you take the winner out he is right in the finish."

Michael Dee (Nugget): "Travelled very strongly in the run and probably didn't see out the 2000 (metres)."

Dylan Browne Mcmonagle (Future History): "Really good run. Definitely his career best. Plenty of good horses behind him. Really happy."

Nash Rawiller (Eliyass): "Honest as the day is long. Probably at the end of his prep."

Declan Bates (Docklands): "He's run really well. We were a bit slowly away which cost him his chance of maybe running a place. From where we were he really quickened up well but got tired inside the last 100 (metres) but ran a really good race."

Craig Williams (Royal Champion): "He gave me a beautiful ride from a wide draw. We got a lovely sweet spot but when I placed him under pressure he failed to respond to my riding."

Jye McNeil (Atishu): "She performed really well from a good draw and the winners was too good but I thought her performance was great."

Damian Lane (Deny Knowledge): "She tried hard. Always honest."