Connections giggling

Trainers Tony & Calvin McEvoy were laughing after Give Giggles brought up a winning double for the stable on Ballarat Gold Nugget day on Friday, September 22.

The McEvoys won earlier in the day with Sunset Dreaming, then Give Giggles, resuming from a spell, proved too quick her rivals in the Hygain Winners Choice Class One Handicap (1100m).

Ridden by Harry Coffey, who also had been successful on Sunset Dreaming, the four-year-old mare began brilliantly from her wide gate, crossed to lead by the home turn, then gave a kick and was unable to be caught.

Give Giggles ($8) won by a length from Mornington Glory ($4.40) with Scuderia ($6), 2-1/2 lengths away third.

Trainer Calvin McEvoy believes Give Giggles has more wins in store.

“She put the writing on the wall last prep that she is a quite a nice mare,” McEvoy said.

“She had two starts – ran second in a hot race, then got the maiden out of the way.

“We felt she had gone far enough so gave her a nice break.

“She has come back in fantastic order, and it is nice to have a winner for Linda and Graham Huddy.

“Give Giggles has taken a while to mature. She was bought out of New Zealand by Linda.

“She will continue to improve; her coat is starting to come through now so she will take a lot of benefit from today’s performance.

“I think we will keep her at shorter trips for the present and take her through her grades.”

Winning jockey Harry Coffey said Give Giggles had displayed excellent speed.

“That was really good,” Coffey said.

“In her trials she has been doing similar sorts of things, rolling along, but it was good to see her do it under race day pressure.

“When I asked her to kick to fight off other runners, she did.

“I don’t think it was just a win – I think there is improvement, and she can go on and do it in better grades.

“She has been trialling well, but it was good to see her do it on race day and hopefully there is more to come.”