Racing
Meridius wins Cirka Plate: Post Race Trainer and Jockey Quotes
Trainer and jockey quotes after Meridius claims the Cirka Plate at Flemington on Saturday.
Race Result:1st: Meridius (L Kennewell. M Zahra) - $52nd: Is It Me (D Bowman/ D Thornton) - $2.70
3rd: Zoe's Promise (C Maher. D Eustace/J Allen) - $19
Winning Time: 1:23.21 Last 600m: NA
Margins: Long Neck x ¾ Length
Meridius takes out the final event on Newmarket Day pic.twitter.com/s19iigA7M5
— Racing.com (@Racing) March 11, 2023
Winning Trainer: Lloyd Kennewell
On the win and the role Mark Zahra played: "It was good today, it was well-deserved. He's obviously shown us a fair bit of ability and that's the reason you put M Zahra on; 12 out of 10, banged it out, put it in the spot, the race was put to be at the 100 and he was too good."
On his future: "I initially came into this campaign thinking I was going to keep him to six furlongs but after his first-up run Mark said, no, seven (furlongs).
"We'll probably reassess it a little bit but the Bendigo Guineas in three weeks is the perfect race for him, that's 1400."
Winning Jockey: Mark Zahra
On his experience with Meridius before this campaign: "I'd only had one sit on him and he impressed me that day, he ran second to Aft Cabin, it was a good run.
"First-up, they were just a bit sharp for him around Lakeside but I was motoring through the line and I said to Lloyd, if we can find a 1400 for him, just a normal race, I reckon he'll win next start.
"Luckily we got a good draw and a good run and it worked out."
On the first-up run: "He improved a lot from it and had a good blow, but the form he's got and with the run I had he was always going to be hard to hold out."
On his recovery from last week's fall: "A few pain-killers but I rode horses nearly every day, this is the time of year you can't afford to (be off).
"I've got a day or two off now, so I might just kick back with a few cold glasses of champers."
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