Courageous Cavity’s Classic

Cavity Bay displayed great heart to fight off all challengers and land the feature Commonwealth Hotel VOBIS Gold Elvstroem Classic (1300m) at Swan Hill on Friday, June 7.

Trained by Tony & Calvin McEvoy, Cavity Bay jumped well from gate three and jockey Harry Coffey had no hesitation taking the filly to front and from then on was able to rate her perfectly.

The two-year-old looked sure to be swamped going past the 200-metre mark with five horses trying to run her down, and in fact, she was narrowly headed.

But Coffey waited to ask for that final effort and Cavity Bay ($11) responded to win by a long head from Centre Square ($41) with Just For Show ($2.35 fav), a head away third.

Stable foreman for the McEvoys, Tim Hanley, wasn’t surprised by Cavity Bay’s victory.

“We came here with a little bit of confidence,” Hanley said.

“She has impressed in two jump outs for her return.

“Tony Santic bred this girl, so ‘thank you’ to Tony for sending her to us.

“She has taken time to develop but always shown good ability.

“Cavity Bay ran well on debut at Geelong then ran quite well at Moonee Valley but just wasn’t quite right mentally.

“She has come back more mature and hopefully can go on with it now.”

Winning jockey Harry Coffey was full of praise for Cavity Bay.

“That was a great win, she did a brilliant job,” Coffey said.

“She has put a bit more icing on the cake for Tony & Calvin who have had a great season with their two-year-olds.

“It was a pretty good effort for her to come here, lead, then hold them off all the way up the straight.

“She was first up as well, so a terrific effort.”

Coffey said Cavity Bay had matured with a break.

“She is a lot smarter now.

Early, she was a little bit wayward being new but those couple of runs last time have done her the world of good.

“In the gallops I have been riding her at home she has been flying.

“Rayan (Racing Manager Rayan Moore), Tony & Calvin decided to put winkers on her to help her concentrate and it definitely helped today.

“It was a pretty awesome feeling when she was fighting hard down the inside and stuck her head out.

“It was a tough effort from an honest filly.

“It was really cool to win an Elvstroem Classic and pretty awesome to think a horse like Elvstroem kicked off his career here at Swan Hill.”