McEvoy wins six on opening of new Murray Bridge track

By Bren O'Brien

The opening of the new Murray Bridge track has been dominated by Tony McEvoy, who trained the first four winners on the new Gifford Hill track and finished with a career-best equalling six on the day.

The new course, part of a $35 million project, passed its first major test with flying colours, with universal praise for the surface, which raced evenly throughout, albeit with one trainer and jockey to the fore.

McEvoy, South Australia's leading trainer, had set several of his quality gallopers for the meeting, and combined with jockey Barend Vorster to win five races, with Raquel Clark riding McEvoy's other winner.

"We were really looking forward to this meeting," McEvoy said. "We brought some beautiful horses here and it's lovely to kick it off like that."

"Very rarely do the cards fall like this. It's very exciting and a very special day."

The globally experienced Vorster was glowing in his endorsement of the new track.

“I’d like to congratulate South Australia on the superb track,’’ Vorster said. “It’s truly an amazing surface and I think this track will attract some nice horse."

“It’s a very very nice surface,’’ he said.

The first race went to The Difference (I Am Invincible), who cleared out to win by 3.5l on debut.

McEvoy was particularly pleased that the 3-year-old, who was a $300,000 purchase from the 2017 Classic Sale but has battled with injuries which have prevented him from getting to the track, was able to put his best forward.

"We've had a lot of issues with this fellow, he's been very immature, a lot of feet troubles and we thought he broke his pelvis at one stage," he said.

"From a baby, I thought he could be one of my best horses so we knew he had the ticket but the people in him have been incredibly patient."

"It’s just lovely to see him finally get to the track and do the job."

McEvoy said the colt would head back to the same track in a few weeks' time before heading to stakes races in Melbourne.

Big plans for Brazen filly

McEvoy has even greater ambitions for Pretty Brazen (Brazen Beau), who broke her maiden in style with a three-length win over 1200m in Race 2, having sat deep throughout

McEvoy wants to set the filly for the Group 1 Golden Rose on September 28.

"She's a really good filly. I've got grand plans for her. I plan to take her to Sydney and run her in some stakes races for fillies and take her through to the Golden Rose," he said.

"I think she's a filly with that sort of level of talent. Her first start, Microphone (Exceed And Excel) beat her a nostril and he's now a Group 1 winner, the formlines are extremely strong."

Pretty Brazen was a $700,000 buy for her trainer at the 2018 Easter Yearling Sale. She is out of stakes-placed Pretty Penny (Encosta de Lago), making her a half-sister to stakes-winners Sertorius (Galileo {Ire}), Dollar For Dollar (High Chaparral {Ire}) and Clifton Red (Sebring).

"Absolutely gorgeous filly and being a big growing filly, the more time we give her the better she’ll be but she's in a for a tremendous spring," McEvoy said.

She was one of two McEvoy winners to carry the Peachester Lodge colours of Linda and Graham Huddy, with Shop Til I Drop (NZ) (Savabeel) successful in a 1600m benchmark race later in the day.

She is out of Group 2 winning filly Shopaholic (NZ) (Pins) and was the only one of McEvoy's six winners not ridden by Vorster, with Clark getting her over the line.

McEvoy also won with debutant Vahash (Written Tycoon) as well as Quaffany (Zoffany {Ire}) and Diplomatic Measure (Eurozone).

Local trainer David Aldridge tasted success with Our Benevento (Helmet) in Race 5, a race which McEvoy didn’t have a runner in, while Will Clarken won the last race with Russian Romeo (Smart Missile), edging out McEvoy's hope for a seventh winner with Nistaan (Nicconi).

Much-needed boost

The opening of the Murray Bridge track was a much needed fillip for the local industry, which has experienced a difficult 12-18 months which has seen it fall well behind both Victoria and New South Wales in the prizemoney race.

Several leading trainers have opted to move interstate, with McEvoy set to transfer a large chunk of his South Australian operation to his new base at Ballarat in Victoria.

Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing Corey Wingard defended his government's record of supporting the South Australian industry and said the opening of the new track and the associated development would provide a timely boost.

“The Marshall Government believes in the long-term future of the state’s racing and that is why we have injected $24 million into the industry," Wingard said.

“The new course and facilities show there is confidence in the future of the industry and we expect our $24 million stimulus package to provide the impetus for many racing infrastructure upgrades in the near future.”