Race Result:

1st: Meridius (L Kennewell. M Zahra) - $5
2nd: 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."