What the jockeys said after the McEwen Stakes

Brad Waters - Saturday Sep 9

Sydney sprinter Russian Revolution showed his class with a determined first-up win in Saturday's Group II McEwen Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley.

Advertisement
Russian Revolution was too good for his rivals in the McEwen Stakes. Photo: Darryl Sherer

The winner of The Galaxy (1100m) last season, Russian Revolution ($3.40) pressed his claims for a slot in The Everest with his win over the Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra-trained Heatherly ($7.50).

Queensland filly Houtzen ($2.45 fav) was under pressure a fair way out but rallied to run third ahead of Missrock ($9.50).

Below is what the jockeys had to say about the performances of their McEwen Stakes mounts.

PLACING

RUNNER

JOCKEY

COMMENT

1st

RUSSIAN REVOLUTION

MARK ZAHRA

Too strong. He had a nice run and I could hear Houtzen was under the whip coming to the bend and I thought we were going to be hard to beat from there. The boys (Peter and Paul Snowden) always have their horses spot on.

2nd

HEATHERLY

DAMIAN LANE

Really happy with her. She behaved herself but she still didn't jump great but she's going to be spot-on in three weeks' time.

3rd

HOUTZEN

CRAIG WILLIAMS

She didn't show her customary speed from the gates so we just had to sit there and suffer. It wasn't pretty but it brought us out to the part of the track where the winner was. Around the turn I thought we were going to run last so to her credit, and her ability, she did a really good job to be under full pressure and stay on and run third.

4th

MISSROCK

DAMIEN OLIVER

She ran well but she probably found the 1000(m) second-up a touch on the short side for her.

5th

SUPIDO

LUKE NOLEN

They probably didn't go as quick as we would have liked and it probably would have been a mathematical impossibility to close and beat them but he ran well.

6th

HELLBENT

DWAYNE DUNN

He'll improve with the run and he's probably better on the outside (of horses).

Advertisment
More Reading...
Racing Industry Mourns Much Loved Izzy Neale
The thoroughbred racing industry is devastated tonight following news that apprentice jockey Izzy Neale, aged 22, has tragically died as the result of a race fall at Warren on Sunday.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday November 10
Here is the full list of 16 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Inglis Digital Purchase Iron Hawk to Tackle G3 TAB Mile
Harness racing trainer Barry Purdon bought Iron Hawk last year with New Zealand Cup Week in mind, and now the moment has arrived, with the stakes performer set to tackle the Gr.3 TAB Mile (1600m) at Riccarton on Wednesday.
Remembering Sunline – The Queen of the Cox Plate Before Winx
From our vantage point in 2026, we can look back at modern Cox Plate history and marvel at how quickly the years are passing.
Doing Time Wins $100,000 Sprinters Challenge at Riccarton
Lee Callaway shared many jockeys’ rooms with Chris Johnson throughout his riding career, so it was only fitting that the Waikouaiti trainer took out the inaugural running of the Chris Johnson Three-Year-Old Sprinters Challenge (1200m) at Riccarton on Wednesday with Doing Time.
2027 Golden Slipper Entries – Sortable Sale Mail – Find Out More
The new season is nearly upon us and that means all over the country a new crop of rising two year-olds are taking baby steps in the best stables in the land with the Australian Turf Club announcing this week they had received 1881 entries for the 2027 Golden Slipper, so who is in the race?
Remembering Northerly – The Greatest Caulfield Cup Winner This Century
It's Caulfield Cup week, and what better moment to revisit the life and times of one of the greatest - if not the greatest - Caulfield Cup winner of the modern era.
Unraced Brother to G2 Winner Hope in Your Heart Tops MM Digital
Unraced three-year-old Dundeel gelding Putcee (Lot 4) topped the Magic Millions Digital (6-11 Nov) Sale which concluded this afternoon, selling for $30,000 to Liam Ruddy after 38 bids.
One to Watch – Mornington
A homebred for Seymour Bloodstock with an intriguing pedigree opened her account with a stylish win at Mornington on Tuesday.
Unraced First Season Sires Trial Report
It’s been a pretty steady start to spring in terms of 2YO races and we are still waiting to see a first season sire post a winner, but there has been action aplenty at the trials which would indicate the pre-Christmas period is set to ignite.