Racing
Hard Kick wins Listed TAB Talindert Stakes: Post Race Trainer and Jockey Quotes
Trainer and jockey quotes after the Listed TAB Talindert Stakes at Flemington on Saturday taken out by Hard Kick.
Race Result:1st: Hard Kick (B, W & J D Hayes/D Lane) - $32nd: Zambales (A & S Freedman/D Stackhouse) - $2.30 fav
3rd: Diameter (C Waller/J McNeil) - $13
Winning Time: 1:03.90 Last 600m: N/A
Margins: 2-3/4L x 1-3/4L
Flemington Race 1 | Hard Kick
Hard Kick, remember the name @lindsayparkrace's gelding commences Black Caviar Lightning Stakes Day in style
Ch. 78/68, Foxtel 529, Kayo or via our app
REPLAYS: https://t.co/ZIa4a02wC0 pic.twitter.com/8WDUFGhCeF
— Racing.com (@Racing) February 14, 2026
Winning Trainer: Ben, Will & J D Hayes (J D Hayes speaking)
What caught the eye at Ready To Run: "He was bought in the Sydney ready To Run. Dad was representing the company and he was purchased for connections. What a thrill. He's been very well educated at home and we thought he was pretty good and he won with authority there. We're not sure he's as good as Miss Finland, but he looked pretty good there."
Next week?: "We'll keep the option open next week as he did win with head on his chest there, but there's plenty of options going ahead with this horse. It's very exciting."
What impressed the most?: "Winning by four… That was the most easy part of it, but how he was able to control the tempo and kick off. It was a very professional performance."
Winning Jockey: Damian Lane
Hard to pull up: "He was. Once the other horses got near him, he wanted to race them, so he's just a natural competitor and he took a bit of slowing down after the line."
How does he measure up?: "He's a good horse. He's been impressive at the jump-outs. You're never sure going up to 1100 (metres) with two-year-olds off the back of 800-metre jumpouts, but he did give the feel he was going to be better past 800 metres and that's what he's done today. He's gone to another level and really sustained a good gallop throughout. I thought before today that he was a good horse, but just off the better ones, but off the back of that, he might be right up there."
