2022 Champions Stakes Review: What The Jockeys Said

It took a perfect ride from Jamie Kah to steer Zaaki home to victory in the Champions Stakes at Flemington on Saturday. Here’s what the jockeys said after the race.

Jamie Kah (Zaaki – Winner)

“It didn’t hurt him that he was under a bit of pressure because he thrives off it. He really put in today. He did what he likes doing best and that’s rolling along. We saw the superstar horse that’s Zaaki. On the turn I just let him do his thing and then on the line we were tiring slightly but he’s just got the biggest heart this horse and he was in for the fight. I’m just so, so happy.”

Nash Rawiller  (Mo’unga – Second)

“Super run. He’ll win the BMW (Tancred Stakes) or something big in Sydney, it just hasn’t quite come together for us, I thought it was going to come together today but it didn’t quite.”

Damien Oliver (Hezashocka – 3rd)

“Beautiful run. He ran enormous, if he’d gone straight he might have nearly won.”

James McDonald (Anamoe – 4th)

“Great run. They went slow, but it still felt like I had a lovely run to pick them up but he levelled out quickly.”

Mark Zhara (I’m Thunderstruck – 5th)

“He ran well. The race shape was against him, having to get that far back, but he’s had a long prep and done a good job.”

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John Allen (Bankers Choice – 6th)

“He was awesome. Really good.”

Craig Williams (Elliptical – 7th)

The barrier end up being a really big disadvantage the way the race was run as they didn’t go too fast, but I loved the way that throughout the race he showed how good he is. But, to be giving them that much of a head start, to be having that type of sprint against that calibre of horse at 10 furlongs, we were just a bit vulnerable.”

Brenton Avdulla (Hinged – 8th)

“He’s run super. We had a lovely run, his stamina probably just told on him in the end.”

Michael Dee (Mr Maestro – 9th)

“I was in the stalls a long time and he got a bit upset, he missed it a beat when they opened and got tightened a little bit for room before the turn in. He probably would have been a place or two closer other than that.”

Tim Clark (Mustang Valley – 10th)

“He was honest. He just couldn’t sprint with them off that tempo.”

Ben Melham (Maximal – 11th)

“He ran good. I thought he was a real sniff up the side, he travelled into it but he’s just a duffer when you let his head go in that ground.”

Tell us what you thought of the race in the comments below.