What the beaten brigade said after the 104th Cox Plate and the Spring Champions Stakes.

MOONEE VALLEY

Group 1 - Ladbrokes Cox Plate

(3yo+ WFA - 2040m)

Race Result:

1st: Via Sistina (C Waller/J McDonald) - $5
2nd: Prognosis (M Nakauchida/D Lane) - $3.40 fav
3rd: Broadsiding (J Cummings/J Kah) - $6.50

Winning Time: 2:0.07  Last 600m: N/A

Margins: 8L x 2L

Beaten jockey comments:

Craig Williams (Mr Brightside): "I was proud of Brightside, his run was good, but when she (Via Sistina) came I couldn't go with her and then, to his credit, I loved how he stayed on in the straight and just missed out on running third. Credit to Mr Brightside."

Damian Lane (Prognosis): "He was very honest, you couldn't have asked much more. He stepped away well and travelled great throughout the run. I was confident coming down the side I was going to be a winning chance but Via Sistina was just in another class today. She was way too good today."

Mark Zahra (Kovalica): "He ran well. He's a horse that doesn't like being amongst the field, he went from travelling to stopping, but finished off alright. He ran above his price, he did well."

Michael Dee (Royal Patronage): "He actually stuck on and tried very hard. I didn't expect to be in front going past the post the first time and he actually wanted to hang out quite badly - I was on one rein for quite some time. He tried hard, we were beaten a long way, but he acquitted himself pretty well."

Blake Shinn (Docklands): "The horse ran very well. We had a good run from barrier one, got on the back of the winner down the side and presented to challenge the placegetters - he got a little tired late - but I thought he ran really well."

Declan Bates (Pride Of Jenni): "Just raced a bit flat. I knew a long way out she wasn't taking me away from them, I was having to just ask her to do it a bit. She seemed to pull up well and hopefully she does but a bit flat today."

Jamie Kah (Broadsiding): "He really surprised me at how much of a big baby he is still. He spat the bit out at the 800 and Docklands bumped him out the way and I thought we were done but he picked up and found the line fantastic. I'd say he's an Anamoe - next year he'll win the Cox Plate - he's still a year away."

Karis Teetan (Evaporate): "He got into a beautiful rhythm down the back straight and then once the race developed he couldn't handle the high pressure."

RANDWICK

Group 1 - Moet & Chandon Spring Champion Stakes

(3yo SW - 2000m)

Race Result:

1st: El Castello (A Cummings/J Parr) - $3F
2nd: Henlein (A&S Freedman/T Berry) - $5
3rd: Firm Agreement (A Neasham & R Archibald/T Sherry) - $21

Winning Time: 2:03.05 Last 600m: 34.92

Margins: Neck x 1½L

Beaten jocley comments:

Jay Ford (Swiftfalcon): "He wasn't able to close off. Settled well back from that gate. Tried to put him into the race prior the bend. He just failed to see out 2000m." 

Tommy Berry (Henlein): "Very proud of him. Got onto the winner's back coming to the corner. I thought we had his measure half way down the straight. Full credit to the winner. He was too good today."

Tom Sherry (Firm Agreement): "Super proud. Obviously had to go back from the wide gate. The amount of ground he made up off a slow tempo was something I was in awe of. He is a nice horse going forward."

Kerrin McEvoy (Due Calzini): "He just fired up a little bit with those blinkers on. Didn't get into a nice rhythm for me so he can improve into next prep. He's a nice big horse." 

Zac Lloyd (Flying Argento): "Just a bit outclassed there. I thought the pace they were going definitely wasn't suiting my horse. I tried to get them going. Just outclassed."

Sam Clipperton (Harlem Queen): "She ran terrific. Covered a bit of ground in the early stages. I was able to fold in one off. She found the line really well. Provided she pulls up well, I'm really confident going into an Oaks that she can be one of the ones, if not the one to beat."

Chad Schofield (Rag Queen): "She kept finding the line. Her best furlong was her last one. She is a nice progressive staying filly."

Jason Collett (Pleasure Artist): "Brave. Probably just found wanting the last part of the race."

Andrew Adkins (Noises): "She went really well. Obviously got nice sectionals out in front. Got softened up a long way from home and I took my time the last little bit. Still very happy."