Race Result:
1st: Timour (C Waller/K McEvoy) - $11
2nd: Raging Bull (D Payne/R King) - $21
3rd: Sir Lucan (G Waterhouse & A Bott/N Rawiller) - $3.20F
Winning Time: 2:32.84 Last 600m: 34.58
Margins: Short ½ Head x Nose
On the horse's development since arriving: "He has gradually been making progress since he's been in Australia and I think the writing was on the wall at Flemington two starts back."
"Last start he was a touch plain but today he was really strong all the way to the line. It's good to see him put one on the board."
On what's next: "Strong enough to think he's a genuine Sydney Cup chance. We decided to bring him up here, give him a run and set our sights on the Sydney Cup."
On owners OTI Racing: "They spread them (their horses) around and they give young trainers a chance and that's how I got my opportunity to train for Mr Henderson and his team and ever since he has always had one or two with me."
"He knows the right horses to bring. This horse raced at Royal Ascot when Nature Strip was up there over 4000m, so we know a bit about the horse and we knew he was coming for a long time."
Winning Jockey: Kerrin McEvoy
On the run: "He enjoyed that there today, just getting his toe into the ground which Chris (Waller) said he would enjoy. Third run this prep he was always just going to be a little bit better. We were able to get a nice trail and he just seems genuine and straight forward. Once I got Torrens out of the way I was able to really build revs and he knuckled down well late and he'll stay further as well."
On the tempo: "Nash (Rawiller on Sir Lucan) rode a really good race in front. He got a couple of steady sectionals along the back and then strode a bit more from the half mile and gave his horse every chance so he was always the one to beat. He's done a good job my horse, he's open to further improvement once he settles in here."
On the horse: "He's a nice little horse, he's only had a couple of runs here. I thought he just ran well down there without having everything go his way at Flemington. Chris gave me some nice confidence, he said 'look he's going to enjoy this ground' which is just perfect galloping ground and enabled to just get a good spot from a good draw behind what we thought was the main danger and he was able to do a good job."
Beaten Jockeys:
Nash Rawiller (Sir Lucan): "He was awesome. Stiff to get beaten."
Josh Parr (Torrens): "Nice performance. He's ready to go now third up next time, should be spot on."
John Allen (High Emocean): "I thought she ran OK. A little bit new on her Sydney way of going. Turned into a little bit of a sprint home."
Michael Dee (Glory Daze): "Had excuses. Was re-shod behind the start. Took a bit out of it. Probably should have been a little bit closer at the finish."
Dylan Gibbons (Almania): "Bit frustrating that he's run fifth and run so good. The tempo of the race didn't help. He's run enormous."
Brock Ryan (Alakahan): "Horse is going good. Very good run."
Rachel King (Raging Bull): "Massive run. Good to see him bounce back to form up over the trip."
Jye McNeil (Pesto): "Drew awkward, began awkward. Too tough for him there."
Tyler Schiller (Secret Glamour): "I thought she was really good up to that trip. She just needed a bit of room."