Racing
Fireball wins Restricted Listed Inglis Millennium: Post Race Trainer and Jockey Quotes
Trainer and jockey quotes after Fireball claims the Restricted Listed Inglis Millennium at Randwick on Saturday.
Race Result:1st: Fireball (C Waller/J McDonald) - $4.60F2nd: Ghana's Akan (C Maher/T Berry) - $17
3rd: Alibaba (K&K Keys/C Newitt) - $26
Winning Time: 1:03.61 Last 600m: 34.83
Margins: ½L x Head
Fireball BURSTS through to win the Inglis Millennium for @cwallerracing with @mcacajamez in the saddle! pic.twitter.com/tnhP38baev
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 7, 2026
Winning Trainer: Chris Waller
On the winner: "He is a very unassuming horse. It's a privilege to be training him. James and Alison have given us a few horses this year and they've given us some nice ones."
On being unassuming: "He is. He just does what he has to. He is a lovely colt and has the best nature, which is what you want. Today is just the start of it, the start of a big preparation and he's on his way."
Find a Slipper leadup: "Not the Silver Slipper, we've got a couple going there, but it won't be far after the Silver Slipper."
On his Slipper potential?: "Yes, he does. His first win was very special and then again today. We were just a little bit concerned taking on a sixteen-horse field, whether he'd be up to that type of pressure, but James made it easy for him."
"Maturity. He will get stronger, and he'll get faster. He's got the frame. He is well bred. He hasn't been wound up to get to today. He wasn't even going to run unless he drew a nice barrier, I was more than happy to wait and just bide our time.
"But the good draw allowed him to have a bit of confidence, get amongst them, and not have to do too much."That he's got here without being pushed to get here."
Good collection of colts: "We're starting to work them out, which is good. We've got some more sales coming up on the weekend, and I'm looking forward to buying a few more. The Silver Slipper is in two weeks and we're in no rush. We got a few colts we can now sit back and split up a little bit and 1200 metres, I think will suit him better, so one of those ones coming up."
Winning Jockey: James McDonald
On the winner: "Fireball is a really good type. Chris (Waller, trainer) and his team have done a marvellous job with this horse."
"I've been saying all week to Chris that the colt is a bit of a 'dummy' and I wasn't sure if he was ready for a test like this."
"But great credit to Chris, he had faith in the colt and said he is a very nice horse as you will see when he is put under pressure."
On the run: "He was put under pressure today and we saw how well he responded. With two-year-olds at this time of year it is all up here (points to his head). The one in the Lonhro Plate (Campione D'Italia) is just as good as Fireball but he's not executing as well. I wouldn't write off the first one but Fireball is going the right way and he will run a strong 1200m, too.''
Beaten Jockeys:
Craig Newitt (Alibaba): "He was unbelievable. On his Melbourne leg the whole race. We were strung up in traffic and he smashed the line. He's a genuine G1 colt."
Tim Clark (Plagiarism): "I thought it was an excellent run. Covered a bit of ground. Will improve on that. Better out to 1200m."
Andrew Adkins (Audit): "Pretty pleased with him. I know it doesn't look that great to the eye, but he'd done the right things and chased well."
Zac Lloyd (Star Of Jamaica): "He was a pleasure to ride. He just lacked that killer turn of foot at the top of the straight. If he can strengthen up and get that he will be a nice horse."
Sam Clipperton (Royal Exile): "Acquitted himself well. Had a nice drag into it from the barrier and found the line nicely."
Adam Hyeronimus (Defensemen): No comment
Jason Collett (Calamari Ring): "Didn't step from the gate. We planned to be a lot closer. Made it very difficult. Run is probably not too bad from where the start she was giving them."
Jay Ford (Where's The Circus): "Very inexperienced. Very raw. Overr-raced and went too keen. Left herself vulnerable."
Tyler Schiller (Lassified): "I thought she was super game. There is not much of her. She is probably lacking a bit of strength and the pressure of the race was a bit too much for her. She did keep finding late."
Chad Schofield (Screen Icon): "We had a big task from the draw. We got cover and travelled well. She quickened into the straight but got a bit tired late."
Tommy Berry (Ghana's Akan): "Very good effort. Found the back of the winner at the top of the straight. Just needed the winner to kick a little bit earlier so we could get the split earlier. She is coming into good form. Will go to Melbourne in good form."
Adam Farragher (Long Throw): "Probably wants to go up in trip now and be ridden with a little bit more patience. I think it was a good run but better held onto a little bit."
Tom Sherry (Jacaranda): "Ran really well. Is a lovely horse and will even be better in time."
Reece Jones (Oh Yes She Did): "Pulled up a bit scratchy I think. Jarred up on the track."
Regan Bayliss (Profitabelle): "I think drawing toward the inside was probably detrimental to her chances. Maybe a little bit below what we think she can do."
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