Racing
Mister Bianco wins the Notorious Punters Club Handicap: Post Race Trainer and Jockey Quotes
Trainer and jockey quotes after the Notorious Punters Club Benchmark 68 Handicap at Gold Coast on Friday, taken out by Mister Bianco.
Race Result:1st: Mister Bianco (Paul Shailer/Michael Rodd) - $3.10F2nd: More Love (Jeff Dunn/Rikki Jamieson) - $10
3rd: Vocals (Kelly Purdy/Damien Thornton) - $61
Winning Time: 1:10.28 Last 600m: 35.56
Margins: ½L x Long Head
"Good to see this horse win. He was really brave last start and got run down by a horse that I have good respect for in Captain Fenkel. He brought Sydney Saturday form to that race the other day.
"The query today was probably the six furlongs stepping back from 1350 but I think he is a better seven furlong horse.
"They ran it like a seven furlong race. He was in a great spot from a soft draw and another beautiful ride from Michael.
"He's a bit of a tricky bloke. He lacks a bit of killer instinct and he's a bit frustrating at times. Hopefully tonight he gets a bit of confidence out of that and we can build on it. We won't set our sights too high this preparation. We'll just try and pick off low fruit and keep his confidence up then put him out for a break and hopefully he'll be a better horse."
On Peter Tighe involvement in his stable: "It is a privilege and gives a lot of confidence. Also humbled. It isn't lost on me. I've got great respect for these (Winx) colours. They are famous colours and they are good supporters of my wife and I since we were in Port Macquarie and since we moved here.
"What he brings to my stable with other clients and friends of his. It is certainly not lost on me."
Winning Jockey: Michael Rodd
"I rode him like the good horse that he is. He is quite smart but he had so many issues in his head. He's got the ability when you ride him trackwork and even going to the barriers he feels like he's got a V8 underneath him but when he straightens he stargazes.
"We've had blinkers on him before and then he charges. It is a balancing act with him.
"I kept building revs before the turn and get him going. He's not a sit-and-sprint job of a horse. I thought I was going to win comfortably but then I could hear the crowd getting pretty vocal and I thought something must be coming so I got stuck into him.
"If you can get his head right, you're fine."
