Dillinger delivers

Lightly-raced fived-year-old Dillinger again showed he steps up second up with a strong win at Sportsbet Ballarat on Tuesday, March 25.

Stepping up to 1600 metres, the Tony & Calvin McEvoy-trained gelding has now won twice from three second up runs.

Ridden by Harry Coffey, Dillinger ($2.30 fav) drew clear to win the Hygain Winners Choice Benchmark 64 Handicap.

Coffey had the gelding away well from gate one to lead but rival Hydrogen Power was determined to find the front, so he eased to settle second.

Dillinger came wide from the 600-metre mark and Coffey asked him to lengthen in the home straight.

Hydrogen Power gave a kick, but the McEvoy-trained runner eventually reeled him winning by a widening 1-1/4 lengths. Cruz Missile ($4.40) was 1-1/2 lengths away third.

Trainer Tony McEvoy said the stable had never lost faith in Dillinger.

“It was a good effort,” McEvoy said. “He has had a long layoff this fellow.

“His first up run was excellent, another bob and he runs second.

“Straight to the mile (1600m) second up after that long layoff. He did not quicken today, rather grounded it out and got there solidly at the end.

“Dillinger is a horse we think will get further, and to this point, the furthest we have raced him is 1600 metres.

“The way he won today, second up at the 1600 metres, you think he would get a little further.

“He is a big round fellow and there is a lot of improvement to come physically, he still doesn’t look like a fit athlete at the moment.

“I think there is more to come. It has been a long journey, and the owners have been very patient, he has always shown up some talent.

“His form has been very consistent and solid, but he has had issues, things that have kept niggling and going wrong, but we have had enough faith to keep him and hopefully we are going to be rewarded now.”

Winning jockey Harry Coffey said Dillinger should further improve after the win.

“Linda (Meech) was getting pretty vocal on her horse (Hydrogen Power), and I think my fellow was a bit scared and didn’t want to go near them,” Coffey said.

“He got the job done but he needed a bit of talking into it. He was a little bit sluggish today.

“It was nice for him to get a win and a bit of confidence.

“The way he relaxed in the run he might get a bit further.

“Having had the long time off, Dillinger is still a bit ring rusty so there is plenty of improvement there, not only fitness wise but race day as well.”