Cover image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
The McEvoys operate stables at Angaston in South Australia and a new complex at Ballarat, having previously had a base at Flemington, in Victoria that can cater for 100 horses.
Tony McEvoy, Linda Huddy and Calvin McEvoy
The Ballarat move was prompted by the phasing out of training at Caulfield and a fear that Flemington may at some stage go the same way and also to set up Calvin’s future in the business.
Tony McEvoy said they were now going about rebuilding a quality team of thoroughbreds following the loss of a number of stalwart performers for the team.
“The horses have been going well and we’ve been striking very well in the smaller races. We need some to step up after the retirements in the last 15 months of Sunlight, Hey Doc, Dollar For Dollar, Pretty Brazen and Sisstar,” Tony McEvoy said.
“They were five very good Group horses and they are so hard to replace.”
They have left a big hole in the stable with the outstanding mare Sunlight (Zoustar) a three-time Group 1 winner and Hey Doc (Duporth) successful four times at the highest level.
Pretty Brazen (Brazen Beau) won twice at Group 2 level and was a Group 1 placegetter while her half-brother Dollar For Dollar (High Chaparral {Ire}) was a dual Group 3 winner and a multiple Group 1 placegetter.
Sunlight’s sister Sisstar claimed an edition of the G3 Red Roses S. and the Listed Bel Esprit H.
“I don’t mind the rebuilding and we’re getting the Ballarat property to work correctly and looking to get some better-quality horses,” McEvoy said. “It’s all systems go there now.”
“I don’t mind the rebuilding and we’re getting the Ballarat property to work correctly and looking to get some better-quality horses." - Tony McEvoy
The proven horses within the ranks will be spearheaded by Savatoxl (Kuroshio), who progressed from victory in last season’s G3 CD Mackay S. to claim the G1 The Goodwood.
“He’s a really nice horse and I’m hoping I can run him in the G2 Schillaci S., then in the G1 Manikato S. and maybe the G1 Winterbottom S. in Perth,” McEvoy said.
Filly doing a treat
A potential spring Group 1 contender among McEvoy’s 3-year-olds is Mac ‘N’ Cheese (Sebring), whose four appearances include a victory in last season’s Listed Oaklands Plate at Morphettville.
Mac 'N' Cheese as a yesrling
She turned in an eye-catching performance when she ran on Saturday in the Listed Atlantic Jewel S. at Moonee Valley where she came from last to finish fourth behind the unbeaten Zouzarella (Zoustar).
“She was super and it wasn’t a perfect race for her and she ran absolutely superbly and we’re looking forward to getting her to a bigger galloping track,” McEvoy said.
“She’ll go to the Listed Jim Moloney S. at Caulfield in three weeks and that will tell us whether she is a G1 Thousand Guineas filly.”
Another 3-year-old with plenty of upside is Red Hawk (Deep Field), who created a deep impression when bolting home untouched by 6l in his debut at Ballarat, but further progress has been temporarily halted.
“He’s gone to the paddock, he jarred up and he’s telling us that he’s still got growing pains. He’s a beauty, he’s a Group horse and the spring came up too soon and we’ll wait for the autumn,” McEvoy said.
New team member
Meanwhile, a new recruit to the team will be Belle Plaisir (NZ) (Proisir), who has won four races including the Listed Rangitikei Gold Cup.
“My team watch the New Zealand racing and spotted her, we liked the look of the mare. She will fly over in the middle of this month and won a trial the other day,” McEvoy said.
“My team watch the New Zealand racing and spotted her (Belle Plaisir), we liked the look of the mare." - Tony McEvoy
“I’ll have a look at her once she gets here and see if she needs another trial or she could well be ready to go. It’s so pleasing to see New Zealand racing again and we’ve got plenty of room if anyone wants to send any over, there’s so much money here to race for.”
McEvoy struck a deal with part-owner and trainer Lucy Tanner, who has raced the mare with Lance Hickman. She was purchased for NZ$32,000 out of Fairdale Stud’s draft at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale at Karaka.
“Tony has been very interested in the mare, and in the end, he put in an offer to us that was too good to refuse,” Tanner said. “From the outset, we’d told him first and foremost that the mare was not for sale. That was the bottom line – we wanted to retain her ourselves for her breeding career.
“He came back to us with a package that we’re more than happy with, and it’s going to be a good chance for her to race over there. If she could pick up any black type in Australia, it would really set her up as a broodmare.
Belle Plaisir (NZ) with trainer Lucy Tanner (green dress)
“She’s got plenty of Australian-blood, being by Proisir out of a daughter of the speed sire Zeditave, so we’re hoping there’ll be a market for her progeny on both sides of the Tasman.
"As Tony has pointed out, the progeny of Proisir have been performing well both in New Zealand and in Australia.”
