Racing
Fukubana wins the XXXX Handicap: Post Race Trainer and Jockey Quotes
Trainer and jockey quotes after the XXXX Benchmark 85 Handicap at Doomben on Saturday taken out by Fukubana.
Race Result:1st: Fukubana (M Dunn/J McDonald) - $2.60F2nd: Mississippi Prince (B Gray/S Collett) - $61
3rd: Demon Darb (R Heathcote/T Berry) - $4.40
Winning Time: 1:38.12 Last 600m: 36.08
Margins: 2.5L x neck
Winning Trainer: Matthew DunnPunters get off to a flyer at Doomben, with Fukubana cruising to victory in the opener. @mcacajamez @mattydunnracing pic.twitter.com/vAspW5vpiG
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 17, 2025
"He was very good today. He got an exceptional ride, but in saying that he got himself in front quite early in the home straight. The exciting part is that in every run since he came back from his injury, his last 100 metres has been the best part of his race. I don't know how far he'll get out to, he just wanted to overdo it slightly when the tempo slackened mid-race.
"He's had a decent space between his runs so it's not a great surprise and it could be a bit of freshness, we'll just take it one step at a time with him. He's destined for bigger and better races than a Benchmark 85 at some point, but there's no rsh with him and he's done a good job. His owners have been very patient with him after he got injured, so it was good to see him get the job done today.
"We bought him back in distance heading into Country Championship races, he's bred to get 2000 metres or possibly even further so as we start to train him that way, he'll learn to settle better and improve."
Winning Jockey: James McDonald
"He was very good today, that was the perfect start to the day."
On the track: "It's probably a Heavy 9 now, and it's not going to improve. Down the back it's probably even worse than that, maybe a 10 down the back and a 9 in the straight. So it's riding very tough."
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