Mackinnon Stakes: Japan's Suzuka Devious, Kluger finish seventh, eighth, respectively

Japan's Suzuka Deviousand Kluger finished seventh and eighth respectively in the Mackinnon Stakes (G1), held at Flemington in Australia on November 9, 2019.

Mitsuru Hashida, trainer of Suzuka Devious
“The horse had improved considerably from his last start. The plan was to track Melody Belle and he was able to do that for the first half of the race. The pace slowed down and he went wide, but the way the race unfolded favored the horses up front. He couldn’t catch them. The fact that he had drawn wide did make things difficult. After this, the plan is to stay on in Australia, with his next target the Nov. 23 Ballarat Cup (listed, 2,000 meters).

Michael Dee, jockey of Suzuka Devious
“With the far outside gate, he took up position at the very back and the race unfolded in such a way that made things difficult for him. Still, he ran well in the straight and quickened nicely. But, like he did in the race, he lugged in at the very end, so wasn’t able to gain quite enough ground. He was in perfect condition, couldn't have been better. I think his team did a fantastic job of getting him here.”

Tomokazu Takano, trainer of Kluger
“He broke well, and I was satisfied with both his position and the way the race unfolded. In his last race, he was fading going into the straight, but this time he was looking strong in the stretch so I had my hopes up. He’d really given it his all last out so he may have been a bit tired, but I think he did the very best he could for now. Because of the problem with his airway last time he wasn’t able to do too well, but he recovered from that. I want to express my gratitude to the stable staff and everyone who supported us in helping to get him back into condition.”

Kerrin McEvoy, jockey of Kluger
“He was good in the pre-parade ring and during the preliminaries. He wasn’t tense or agitated. He did feel like he was on his toes. He broke well, his position was good and he felt good under way. And when I asked him to pick it up in the stretch he did give it everything he had but he seemed bothered by the surface somewhat. I think a track with a bit more spring to it may be better for him. This was the first time I’ve ridden a Japan-based horse in Australia and I’m grateful to have been given the opportunity.”

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Racing Australia