Trainer and jockey quotes after the Noel Rundle Handicap at Sandown on Saturday taken out by Gringotts.
Race Result:
1st: Gringotts (B Mertens/C Maher & D Eustace) - $3.70
2nd: Loco (J Childs/M Price & M Kent Jnr) - $2.90 fav
3rd: Dashing (L Meech/A Purcell) - $9
Winning Time: 1:38.97 Last 600m: NA
Margins: Half-Head x Short-Half-Head
Gringotts!
— Racing.com (@Racing) April 8, 2023
That's now three in a row for the Per Incanto gelding @beau_mertens @cmaherracing pic.twitter.com/32kSnxYrll
Winning Trainer: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
On Explosive Jack's Sydney Cup win: "That was fantastic. Massive effort by the whole team. That horse has been everywhere, he's had a few little niggles and from Cavalino to Cranbourne, Ballarat, it's a massive team effort."
On the horse: "You can only win and that's what he's doing. He still travels a bit free. Beau then took a couple of holds during the race, he was just racing a little bit over the top.
"Whether or not 14 (hundred) or a mile is his trip, time will tell, but he was fantastic today.
"He cost a little bit out of New Zealand and it's just good to see the horse repay them."
Could he end up in Adelaide: "Possibly. He's had a long prep, he was sort of rejuvenated going down to the Cranbourne and getting to the beach. If we were to go anywhere we may look at Queensland, but I'll let David and Ciaron decide that."
Winning Jockey: Beau Mertens
On preparations for the ride: "I probably watched every one of his replays of every start he's had so far and he was a good ride coming into today.
"Johnny (Allen, previous rider) spoke to me yesterday (and said) he might be a little bit suspect at the mile but I think he proved himself then when he burst through with a good turn of foot.
"He was probably on his last legs a little bit late but it was good to see him hold on."
On his turn of foot: "It's natural, because I had to take a run on him and he was quite professional, he didn't relent going through it and it was a bit of a late call to go back to the inside.
"He's got a lot of ability and he's got a good turn of foot, I think he's going to go a long way on the way he's just won today."
