Altermatum’s powerful win

Altermatum indicated she was a filly of potential with a powerful victory at Ballarat on Friday, March 7.

The three-year-old filly came from a distant 12th in the field of 14 to grab a win in the Eureka Concrete Maiden (1200m).

The victory gave cause for trainers Tony & Calvin McEvoy to celebrate the latter’s 30th birthday.

It was also a welcome tonic for major part-owner Wayne Mitchell who has been on the sick list.

Ridden by Harry Coffey, Altermatum, backed from $3 into $2.20 favourite, powered home to score by a half-length from Queen Katrina ($11) with Flattered ($6.50), 1-1/4 lengths away third.

After jumping well, the daughter of Zoustar balanced up early but drifted back towards the tail of the field.

Coffey brought her to the outside turning from home and the filly extended, eventually catching the runner-up which had established a five-length break on the rest of the field.

Trainer Tony McEvoy said it had been an impressive win.

“Harry (Coffey) was in a dilemma early,” McEvoy said.

“He was six and seven wide, they were going quick, and he had to make a decision, and the horse was obviously telling him to go quiet.

“He showed lovely patience, but it gave her a big job to do, and she was up for it, she was really impressive.

“She was a very expensive filly to buy, and she is very valuable being stakes-placed but until today she had not been able to get over the line.

“That will do her the world of good today, give her great confidence.

“Wayne Mitchell, the majority owner in the filly, along with the China Horse Club, has been a bit under the weather so this will be good medicine for him.”

McEvoy said Altermatum was a filly which had shown she was up to stakes grade.

“We have decided now just to develop he, let her learn and get the confidence she needs so we are not going to be in a rush to get her back to that level.”

Winning jockey Harry Coffey said Altermatum was a talented filly.

“They rocked along,” Coffey said.

“I’ve ridden her a few times now thinking she would be just too good.

“The other day I rode her in a bit more of a casual manner and allowed the race to unfold and she rounded it out really well.

“She has probably come back a stronger filly which helps.

“Today, when they were rocking along again, I took the opportunity to follow Billy (Egan on Flattered) on a horse which was going to be hard to beat and was going to take us right into the race.

“Even though we were a long way back, it was the right call. I followed Flattered, and it gave us a great cart into the race.

“When I pulled off its back, I thought if I have got it covered I had the race won, little did I know Dean Yendall was five in front and roaring like he can.

“The leader took a bit of running down, but she stuck to her guns and got the job done.”