Racing
Apulia wins the VOBIS Gold Star: Post Race Trainer and Jockey Quotes
Trainer and jockey quotes following the Mittys VOBIS Gold Star won by Apulia at Moonee Valley on Friday.
Race Result:1st: Apulia (B, W & JD Hayes/M Dee) - $4.802nd: Regal Azmon (P Stokes/T Stockdale) - $8.00
3rd: Enna's Dream (A Rae/J McNeil) - $11
Winning Time: 1:29.18 Last 600m: N/A
Margins: 1/2 length x Short Half Head
Winning Trainer: Ben, Will & JD Hayes (Will speaking)The Valley Race 6 | Apulia
The former VRC Derby runner-up comes from last with a spectacular finishing burst at The Valley
Ch. 78/68, Foxtel 529, Kayo or via our app
REPLAYS: https://t.co/ZIa4a02wC0 pic.twitter.com/8fnhq6S09w
— Racing.com (@Racing) October 24, 2025
On the win: "That's a really rewarding win for the team. So proud of the horse, so happy for Jeff and Rondo, who are great supporters of the stable. And obviously the team at Lindsay Park's vet department have done a lot of work with him."
"To see him run like that first up is pretty special."
Off a long break: "There's certainly that mental aspect of when they haven't seen a racetrack for so long. But we were pretty confident in our processes. We had a similar result with Aztec State earlier in the year who won with a year off."
"So, at our property, we get them nice and fit, and with the water walker, they stay sound. So, with the two trip away trials, three jump outs in total, we were very confident he'll run a forward race. But to do that first up certainly had us surprised."
In the run: "They were going pretty quick early and certainly. had him off a bit. I was a little bit worried in the early stages."
"But as they came past the 800 (metres) and he really tacked on back in the field, and then Mick was going so good, he had to go around them. So I got more confident as we got closer to the line, as silly as that sounds."
Winning Jockey: Michael Dee
Unfolded as planned: "Basically, exactly how I rode him today, expecting him to run a nice race, and he'd been trialling very well leading into this. But I must say it did surprise me how well he actually won tonight. So, super training effort by the boys and well done to them."
During the run: "I expected him to be travelling a little bit more comfortably. I just left him alone basically, and he was happy at the tail of the field. Every time I just gave him a little squeeze, he picked up underneath me and had to make a run for it on our own, it was a super win."
More to offer: "Just looking at him in the yard, there's definitely a little bit of tightening up that could come. He had a nice little blow, but he's quite a quirky horse. He pulled up straight away after the line, so I think that's just him."
"Onwards and upwards from here, providing he stays sound."
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