McEvoy takes treble honours
10/09/2005 - 19:27:06Kerrin McEvoy was in sparkling form at Goodwood, completing a treble that included both feature races.
The Australian helped Ashdown Express (15-8 favourite) to his first success for two years, as the six-year-old dead-heated with Moss Vale (3-1) in a thrilling finish to the six-furlong Listed Starlit Stakes.
The Barry Hills-trained Moss Vale got his head in front briefly inside the final furlong under Michael Hills, but nothing could separate the pair at the line as Ashdown Express battled back.
“I thought Michael had got a head up on me, but I thought I’d beaten him at the line,” said McEvoy.
Owner John Jackson felt that the Chris Wall-trained Ashdown Express deserved compensation after finishing third in last week’s Haydock Sprint Cup.
Said Jackson: “The run in that Group One was undoubtedly his best performance and he’s a fantastic horse. He will go for the Diadem Stakes, which is run at Newmarket and that’s his favourite track. He absolutely loves it there.”
Barry Hills’ assistant Kevin Mooney felt the run would have done Moss Vale good, adding: “He’s been campaigned at the highest level all the time and he’s been a bit unlucky.
“His confidence may have been dented a bit and this might just do it a bit of good. I thought he’d won and so did Michael.”
True Cause, the 11-4 favourite, came with a late surge to plunder the Listed Stardom Stakes.
McEvoy settled the Storm Cat colt in behind with plenty of cover early on in the mile event as Private Business set a moderate early pace.
The complexion of the race changed in the last two furlongs as the leader was passed by Leo.
McEvoy asked the 11-4 favourite to quicken and he ran on strongly up the hill to score by a cosy neck from Leo, with Private Business a length and a quarter further back.
“It was good to win. He will be better next year,” said trainer Saeed bin Suroor.
“He will get a mile and a quarter next year, but he is still a baby, still weak and he will be better when he matures. He may have one more run this year - he is a horse who looks like he would benefit from another race.”
McEvoy sparked his hat-trick when guiding the Walter Swinburn-trained Serre Chevalier to a two-and-a-half-length success from Stage Secret in the seven-furlong Chichester Observer Stakes.
The 11-4 favourite followed up his earlier course success to complete a hat-trick in good style and his rider feels there could be more to come.
“This is the first time I have sat on him and he gave me the feel of a nice horse,” said McEvoy. “He behaved great today and he is still progressing. I think he’s grown up a bit.”
Trainer’s son Richard Hannon junior considers Punta Galeria “the best looking horse in the yard” and the Zafonic colt bolted up in a fast time, making all under Dane O’Neill in the one-mile EBF GG Racing Club Maiden Stakes.
Despite running green in the closing stages, veering off the far rail, the two-length winning margin over newcomer Areyoutalkingtome did not do justice to the 2-1 favourite, who may go for the Vodafone Horris Hill Stakes at Newbury on October 21 granted suitable ground.
“He’s a nice horse and never looked like getting beaten, but he must have fast ground,” he said.
“There is not a better-looking horse in the yard and I wouldn’t swap him for anything. The Horris Hill might be his target and he will probably have one more run this year, but he won’t go there if it is soft because he is two-stones better on fast ground.”
Nero’s Return earned a 25-1 quote with VC Bet and a 7lb penalty for the Cambridgeshire after a gutsy neck success in a blanket finish to the nine-furlong Mirror Image Stakes.
Mark Johnston’s charge, sent off a 10-1 shot, came from off the pace under an inspired ride from Robert Havlin to touch off Impeller and Red Spell.
There was a locally-trained winner of the two-mile Racing UK Live On 432 Handicap as John Dunlop's The Nawab (11-4 favourite) powered to a three-length success under Ian Mongan.
Assistant trainer Harry Dunlop said: “It was impressive, but I think we should take this with a pinch of salt. I’m not sure how good the race was. He will be kept in his own class for now.”
Hayler Turner picked up a one-day ban (September 21) for careless riding on third-placed Establishment.
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