Carnival time

Carnival Row continued his excellent second-up record with a strong victory on Sandown Hillside on Wednesday, March 19.

The Tony & Calvin McEvoy-trained four-year-old made it three wins from four second up runs when he finished best to win the Sportsbet More Places Handicap (1600m).

Ridden by Harry Coffey, Carnival Row ($11) grabbed a half head win from Al Duca ($4.80) with Freight Train ($2.60 fav) a similar margin away third.

Coffey had Carnival Row away nicely and settled fifth in the field of 14 before coming to the centre of the track with 400 metres to run. The gelding warmed to his work and dived late to grab a photo finish win.

Trainer Calvin McEvoy praised the winning ride on Carnival Row.

“It was a beautiful ride from Harry (Coffey), he got into a lovely position,” McEvoy said.

“We thought his first up run really put the writing on the wall that he was probably in for his best preparation.

“He is a horse that has always shown good ability but has been a little bit difficult.

“We have to thank Wayne Mitchell, Andrew Brown, Doc O’Callaghan and his crew – there are a good group of people in this horse, they would have all given the win a big shout.

“He is still a big baby, pushy and has taken a while to learn his craft but I think he can go on with it now.

“We feel he can get out to 2000 metres, and today he was aided by a beautiful ride by H Coffey.

“I think he is gradually getting there and is a horse that can get to a genuine Saturday race.”

Winning jockey Harry Coffey said he was confident Carnival Row would get the photo result.

“I thought he had arrived to get the photo as he had a lot of momentum,” Coffey said.

“We had a lovely run. but it did get a bit tight late.

“He is getting better but what is up top in the head isn’t quite there yet – he worries about everything else, but he is going well at the moment.

The team are doing a great job with him, they know him inside and out.

“You have got to ride him in a manner that makes things easy for him so he can use his finish at the end.

“Everything went really well today.

“The way the team’s horses are going at the moment, the McEvoy horses are all running really well.

“Cal, Tony & the team are doing a good job, and I think this horse shows that because he is a little bit difficult but the way he rounded that race out was terrific.

“If he can continue to come to the races and chill out, he will be able to go through his grades.”