TONY and Calvin McEvoy enhanced an already imposing record on the Gifford Hill track at Murray Bridge on a day that could have been even been bigger for South Australia’s biggest stable.
They won the opening two races of the day with Celestine and Born To Play, stablemates The Olympian and King And King both finished second in encouraging performances, before Royalty capped another big day.
“They get their chance on this beautiful big surface,’’ McEvoy told racing.com.
The decision to bring filly Celestine home from Melbourne proved the right move as she fought off a game Chosen Blonde in the opening race and the stable’s belief in the filly is evident with nomination for Group 1 Golden Rose at Rosehill later in the year and McEvoy said the filly had plenty of upside.
“She was well placed today, she’s got some talent,’’ McEvoy said.
“We’ve been pretty patient with her, but she showed this sort of talent in her first prep but it was all too much for her, even today it needed all of Barend’s experience to help her over the line,’’ he said.
Former New South Wales filly Born To Play made amends for being beaten as a well-tried favourite in town at her local debut, dominating on speed to win in famous John Singleton colours.
“She was a bit keen early,’’ McEvoy added.
“She’s a good quality filly, she came down here to us, was a little bit stuff first-up and I think she’ll get better when she gets to a little further, she’ll be better at 1400m and 1600m, she’ll be better in a race that has tempo,’’ he said.
The stable will saddle up Just Zerene and The Natural in Saturday’s $100,000 Listed Lightning Stakes who opened a $4.80 and was quickly backed into $4.20 with tab.com.au.
