Piere Strydom – The Conglomerate (won): “He has misbehaved at the start in the past but this time he jumped beautifully. The pace was spot on for me and it was just a matter of him kicking at the top of the straight -which he did. I wasn’t aware that Marinaresco was coming so quickly but as against that my horse hit the front fairly easily.”

Grant van Niekerk – Marinaresco (2nd): “I was unlucky with my draw as I was always going to drop him in and I was second last turning for home. He then put his ears flat back and took off. He is a good horse but the winner had too big an advantage. It was disappointing, especially for Mr Bass.”

Bernard Fayd’Herbe – Mac De Lago (3rd): “I didn’t have cover but I was happy where I was sitting. He ran a good race but the penalty for his last win cost him.”

Richard Fourie – It’s My Turn (4th): “He settled good and was moving nicely. At the 450m I asked him and he responded. He did everything as I asked.’

Anthony Delpech – Bela-Bela (6th): “She ran a fantastic race. I would like to have been a bit closer but I couldn’t hold my place. Possibly she is not yet strong enough to hold her own against the colts.”

Dougie Whyte – Black Arthur (7th): “He was a little intimidated by Mac De Lago leaning on him and taking me to the outside rail. I would have been 3rd otherwise.”

Gavin Lerena – Master Sabina (9th): “I would have been happier racing two lengths closer but the horse on my outside came in and I had to drop back a bit. But he finished well and ran on strongly.”

Weichong Marwing – French Navy (11th): “It wasn’t his day. He wasn’t enjoying the hard going.”

Anton Marcus – St Tropez (17th):  “I had every chance and I followed the winner but my horse just emptied.”

By Michael  Clower