Coco’s Group 1 goal

The Group 1 $1 million Australasian Oaks at Morphettville is in the sights of Coca Sun, an outstanding first up winner on Sandown Hillside on Wednesday, March 27.

The Oaks, over 2000 metres, will be run on Saturday, April 27 and trainers Tony & Calvin McEvoy have targeted it as a feature for Coco Sun.

The talented three-year-old filly had galloped well in preparation for her return at Sandown Hillside and was given a perfect ride by apprentice Jaylah Kennedy in the Sportsbet Set A Deposit Limit Handicap (1400m).

Kennedy, who claimed 3kg off the filly’s 62kg weight, settled her midfield early before moving up behind the leaders turning for home.

She gambled successfully in gaining a run and Coco Sun ($10) drove through and won well by 1-1/2 lengths from Patchouli Dream ($6) with Indian Dream ($10) a similar margin away third.

Trainer Calvin McEvoy was full of praise for Kennedy’s ride on Coco Sun.

“What a great ride by Jaylah,” McEvoy said.

“She is continuing to impress everyone with her riding.

“Jaylah is making a big mark on the metropolitan scene with her valuable claim, we are happy to be putting her on.

“I think she has got the right mentality, she is aggressive when she needs to be, and horses run for her.

“A beautiful ride, nice filly and well done to Terry Jarvis, the owner, who bought this filly. She has a great pedigree.

“We have always thought a lot of her, we got her to an Oaks last prep, and she looks like she has returned even better.”

McEvoy said the trainers would study the race programs before deciding Coco Sun’s next run.

“We may try to find another run here in Victoria so she only has the one trip to Adelaide, but she will most likely get to the Australasian Oaks third up.

Winning jockey Jaylah Kennedy admitted she took a gamble in the home straight.

“I walked the track earlier in the day and felt the inside three lanes from the fence out was probably where I wanted to be,” Kennedy said.

“In the straight I thought am going to have to bite the bullet, she is first up, because if I come out and have gone too soon it is a rider error, so I was happy to wait, I did and made the split come, and it worked.

“Early, we were left a bit flat footed but once they slackened and I got among the field, she jumped on the chewy a bit.

“She is obviously a filly that has been tried out over further and today was probably the weakest grade she had been in since her maiden.

“She will take good fitness out of today, very exciting.”