Dublin Down’s Group 3 win
Impressive two-year-old Dublin Down raced his way into the Golden Slipper with an outstanding all-the-way at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, March 16.
Trained by Tony & Calvin McEvoy, Dublin Down ($20), ridden by Tim Clark, showed speed and stamina to score a half-length win in the Group 3 $250,000 TAB Pago Pago Stakes (1200m).
Anode ($8.50) was second, 1-1/2 lengths in front of Coleman ($5.50).
The McEvoys said despite Dublin Down being assured a start in the Group 1 $5 million TAB Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens next Saturday, they would wait to make a final decision until they saw how the colt recovered from today’s win.
Anode flew the start from his extreme outside draw in the field of 11 and looked sure to lead but Clark was able to let Dublin Down stride through on the inside to assume control.
Once in front, Clark controlled the tempo superbly, allowed the colt to stride clear from the 400 metres. He did get tired late but had done enough to grab a well-deserved win.
Dublin Down clocked 1:10.55 in winning, 0.21 quicker than the filly Drifting had recorded in taking out the Magic Night Stakes, a race earlier. He also recorded 34.37 seconds for the last 600 metres compared with the filly’s 34.68 seconds.
Trainer Calvin McEvoy was full of praise for Dublin Down.
“That was very impressive,” McEvoy said.
“We know he is a really good colt, he is a Group winning colt.
“Tim rode him very positively with the blinkers on for the first time.
“We really didn’t think he would have the speed to do that.
“However, he really took control of the race.
“They rolled along at a good tempo, and he was really strong.
“For the ownership group of Ray Pawsey, Robyn Parker and Simon George, they are really good owners and have been with us for a long time.
“It is great to get results like this for them.
“We thought he might have been a Sires’ horse but he has won his way into the Slipper so we will keep all our options open.”
Winning jockey Tim Clark admitted he was surprised Dublin Down found the front.
“It was a surprise that he landed there,” Clark said.
“I felt that he controlled himself well and when I did just ask him to build, there was a nice response.
“He quickened up nicely and he was probably just feeling the effects the last little bit.
“But it was a good tough effort.”
A winner of the Maribyrnong Plate two starts ago, Dublin Down has built an impressive record of two wins and a second from just five starts earning $276,590 in stakes.