Racing
Observer wins the Victoria Derby: Post Race Trainer and Jockey Quotes
Trainer and jockey quotes following the Group 1 Howden Victoria Derby won by Observer at Flemington on Saturday.
Race Result:1st: Observer (Ciaron Maher/Mark Zahra) - $2.45 fav2nd: Arcora (Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young/John Allen) - $61
3rd: Deal Done Fast (Matt Cumani/Daniel Stackhouse) - $31
Winning Time: 2:37.28 Last 600m: N/A
Margins: ¾L x ¾L
Winning Trainer: Ciaron Maher (Ciaron speaking)From start to finish, simply brilliant
OBSERVER takes out the 2025 Howden Victoria Derby.
@wwos | #DerbyDay | #MelbCupCarnival pic.twitter.com/G2MeXukpce
— Victoria Racing Club (@FlemingtonVRC) November 1, 2025
Ride by Zahra: "He took luck out of it. He's riding on the crest of a wave. There's no-one riding any better. He's a great mate. It's just fantastic for Godolphin and to be able to train a colt like that, he's got so much ahead of him and so much furnishing to do."
Leading?: "I said to Mark, there was no point trying to fight him, let's just go with him. I thought he was that better than them and I said you might as well ride him that way. To Mark's credit, he had the revs up early and I was a bit worried, but he got some nice sectionals midrace and that's fantastic."
On winning the Derby for Godolphin: "To be given a horse like Tempted to run in an Everest and run so well and to have such a progressive colt like this, I can't thank Andy (Makiv), Jason (Walsh) and the whole team, Ross (Cole).
"The whole Godolphin team, they're an elite outfit, and I can't thank them enough."
On the colt: "I think the sky's the limit for this colt, he's just so adaptable. He was unlucky in a Guineas, he's won a Vase and now he's won a Derby and he's pretty similar to his old man.
"I'm rapt with our team, Mark (Zahra) is a great mate, he's riding on a real crest of a wave and there's nothing better than to win the Derby on Derby Day. It's what it's all about."
On the race: "I thought he was going quick enough earlier that nothing would be silly enough to take him on but I was rapt that he backed him off nicely.
"I said to Mark before the race, I think he's better than them, don't worry about him running the trip, he'll do it.
"Confidence is everything in any kind of sportsman and Mark's certainly got plenty of that."
Winning Jockey: Mark Zahra
Four on the trot and two Group 1's back-to-back: "What a day. It's great riding for the best trainers. They do their job, I do my job and what a great day."
Led and he held on: "I ummed and ahhed whether to lead, but speaking to Ciaron he gave me great confidence. I heard him say he'll run it, so if you want to lead, just do it. He never switches right off, he's always on the bridle, but he's a tough. He's just like his old man and late, when they got to him, he found again. It was a very good victory."
Needed the gas today: "It cost me $1500 (last week), but I saved those few lengths for today."
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