Stakes Quotes: BALANCHINE (GROUP 2)

OFFICIAL STAKES QUOTES

BALANCHINE (GROUP 2)
$250,000 | 1800m (turf)

Winner: MAGIC LILY
Pedigree: New Approach – Dancing Rain (Danehill Dancer)
Owner: Godolphin
Trainer: Charlie Appleby
Jockey: William Buick
Official Time: 1:47.65 (new stakes record)
Track Record: 1:45.52 – Just a Way, 2014
Previous Stakes Record (Meydan): 1:48.58 – Sajjhaa, 2013
Margin of Victory: 1¼ Lengths

William Buick, Jockey, MAGIC LILY (1st)—“She was always going to appreciate the extra furlong in trip. She came on from the Cape Verdi and I thought that was a good performance today. In typical fashion, she hit the front in the straight and just grinds it out. She travels well and wears her heart on her sleeve. She’s a good fighter.”

Charlie Appleby, Trainer, MAGIC LILY (1st)—“What I liked about her this evening is she seems to be growing up. She only had four runs in her career before coming to Meydan. She’s behaved herself and got into a lovely rhythm and I was always confident going into the straight that she would hit the line strong. Stepping up in trip, we were always confident. It wasn’t our intention to win the Cape Verdi (four weeks ago), because the mile was a bit sharp for her, but (she won) and we were confident coming into today. Perhaps we could fall into something like the (Group 1) Jebel Hatta (on Super Saturday, March 7). We have Barney Roy and a couple others and one other meeting to have a look at it. We will appreciate this evening and look forward to the future with her.”

Pierre-Charles Boudot, Jockey, NISREEN (2nd)—“She ran well. The travel was very good behind Magic Lily, but maybe Magic Lily was just better than (Nisreen) today.” 

Mickael Barzalona, Jockey, MAAMORA (3rd)—“My filly improved a lot since her last run. Today she travelled good and I think she just got beat by better horses. The plan was to go forward, then I was pretty happy with my position, but then I got pressure from the outside horse and my filly took the bit. I just let her go and she did very well.”

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