A win for Geoff – no fuss
There was a tinge of sadness with the tough win by No Fuss at Flemington on ANZAC Day, Friday, April 25.
Part-owner Geoff Tucker, one of the four-year-old’s biggest supporters, sadly lost his battle with illness during the week.
Heavily backed from $3.80 into $2.25 favourite, the Tony & Calvin McEvoy-trained No Fuss scored a three-quarter length win in the WGCDR Ian Bayles DFC (1800m) beating Hoops ($91) with Detroit City ($10), a half-length away third.
The gelding jumped well from gate six and jockey John Allen allowed him to settle in third spot, one wide early.
No Fuss strode up to join the leaders turning for home with a host of challengers out wide.
Allen asked him to lengthen, and the gelding established a nice break, and despite carrying 61.5kg was able to hold off his rivals.
Trainer Tony McEvoy paid tribute to the part owner of No Fuss.
“I want to make a shout out to Geoff Tucker’s family,” McEvoy said.
“Geoff was a great racing man, a great supporter of my stable.
“He had 20% of this horse but sadly lost his battle this week. He had been getting great joy out of this horse, and the horse is continuing on for him.
“We are still learning about him,” the trainer said.
“I didn’t see him sitting outside lead, so he is showing he is very versatile.
“When he really gets his craft together, he is going to take us a long way.
“I’ve been watching races at Flemington for a long time and when you are in front that far out, with 61.5 (kg) on your back, he has done a tremendous job.”
McEvoy said No Fuss was a horse that was still developing.
“In three weeks there is another 1800 (metres) here at Flemington.
“I will talk to Terry (Henderson) and his team but if the horse is happy that would be a lovely target.”
Winning jockey John Allen was impressed by the victory of No Fuss.
“He is a very nice horse, very uncomplicated,” Allen said.
“I don’t think today was the ideal way to ride him.
“Circumstances forced us to sit forward today, it was a very gentle pace early.
“We had no option but to roll forward. Once he was there he relaxed nicely, he is quite uncomplicated.
“He gave a good kick when they came around home on the home bend.
“He still felt like he had a bit left in the tank at the finish.”