Racing
Gangsta Granny wins Group 3 Kia Ora Wenona Girl Quality: Post Race Trainer and Jockey Quotes
Trainer and jockey quotes after Gangsta Granny claims the Group 3 Kia Ora Wenona Girl Quality at Randwick on Saturday.
Race Result:1st: Gangsta Granny (M, J & W Hawkes/J McDonald) - $2.802nd: Cosmonova (J Pride/A Adkins) - $41
3rd: Asgrada (J Sargent/M Bourke) - $81
Winning Time: 1:09.60 Last 600m: 33.06
Margins: ¾L x Neck
-Mac has ridden 6 winners from 8 rides!
Gangsta Granny wins the last at Randwick! pic.twitter.com/LYy8ocksbG
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 7, 2026
Winning Trainer: Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes (Michael speaking)
On the win: "She has gone to another level this time around. Her trials have been outstanding, her trial on Monday was just a little jog around. She has come back with a bang."
'It was a nice race that we picked for her. We thought it was an easier race, albeit she had to carry the weight, but she is a class mare."
Throat surgery after last prep: "She did. She had a little epiglottic entrapment, which is nothing major, and she came back. She has always been strong, she has always been that sort of mare but you just want these good horses to come back to the next level, which she has."
"It was a very good, rewarding effort. It was great that (owners) Eric and George (Koundouris) are here today. It's named after George, Gangsta Granny, so the gangster herself is here so it's great. It's a great thrill for them."
The Aim?: "She can go anyway. The improvement she has taken, they've run good time, it's only first-up and she carried a big weight. Her day will come and hopefully we can get to the top of the tree."
Winning Jockey: James McDonald
On expectation of riding six winners on the day: "I had a proper book of rides. I thought every single one could win with a bit of luck. It's one of those days where everything just falls into place. If you get that luck, it just snowballs. You can feel them running well and you're feeling good on top of them and things just worked out that way. "
On the placement: "She looked pretty well placed I suppose with the 58kgs. She is class and has always been on the improve. She run Autumn Glow to half a length."
Beaten Jockeys:
Tommy Berry (Abounding): "Just blew the start and was always going to be hard in a slowly run race. Hit the line strong."
Zac Lloyd (Idle Flyer): "Fantastic. She is a miler. Just not able to rattle off those sectionals that they did late. Sustained the gallop really well."
Tom Sherry (Our Gold Hope): "Ran well. She will be better over further."
Regan Bayliss (Overriding): "Ran really well. She will be better suited over 7 furlongs and a bit of cut in the ground."
Jason Collett (Snow In May): "Raced a bit fresh and keen through the middle. Lost the spot around the turn. Did finish it off when balanced."
Dylan Gibbons (More Territories): "She went fantastic. Had a lovely run and loved the way she finished off."
Rachel King (Spring Lee): "Just too keen."
Jay Ford (Lady Extreme): "Track too firm for her."
Molly Bourke (Asgarda): "A huge first up effort. Has come back in great order. We'll see better things over a bit further."
Andrew Adkins (Cosmonova): "Terrific run. She very unlucky not to win there but she is going really well this preparation."
Tyler Schiller (Eagle Express): "Thought the run was huge. Just a bit of an awkward barrier stuck wide. Was tough late."
Check out our FREE full form, ratings for meetings in nine countries each and every day.