Hearcomesthestar wins Unox Casa Lawson Poole Plate: Post Race Trainer and Jockey Quotes

1st: Hearcomesthestar (J Moloney/B Mertens) - $21
2nd: Naval Academy (C Maher/L Cartwright) - $6.50
3rd: Actuality (P Moody & K Coleman/C Hefel) - $10

Winning Time: 1:10.21 Last 600m: N/A

Margins: Long Head x Short Neck

Winning Trainer: John Moloney

Think there would be improvement second-up?: "I did. It was a great run at Flemington. She just peaked out late. She put herself into the race, had a great sprint at them but then just knocked up a bit. She was a different horse today with the run under the belt and she was going to be dangerous. I didn't think she would be back that far, but I just trusted the horse as my owners did. She's been a good mare for us and to get her back to winning form is always grouse."

Went to Ballarat Cup Day, Pakenham Cup Day and Geelong last year. Similar this year?: "I guess so, but we wanted to get through today. We picked this race out after we had that nice three weeks between runs. It felt good to come here, but we needed to see it happen."

Winning Jockey: Beau Mertens

Did you think you would get there?: "No. I straightened up and I thought she was building through her gears nicely and I thought we might run third, then at the 50 metres I thought we might run second then she just swallowed up those horses in front. To be fair they were probably walking a bit late with the speed they went early but credit to her she has a crack this horse and I'm proud of her win today."

On the speed: "I would have preferred to be a pair closer, but the speed was genuine enough and I was able to take a sit and they really rolled from the 600 (metres) and I had a lot of options to stay in and bide my time and when I was ready, peel her out, and that's when she really motored home."

Courtesy: Racing and Sports