East Indiaman delivers
Trainer Tony McEvoy and jockey Raquel Clark combined for a winning double at Morphettville Parks when East Indiaman scored a brilliant win in the Listed H C Nitschke Stakes (1400m).
The pair won with Vinland earlier in the day with a strong finish, but this time East Indiaman did it from the front.
After a moderate start from a wide draw, Clark sent the three-year-old forward to take up the running, kicked away on the home turn and couldn’t be caught.
East Indiaman ($6) won by three-quarters of a length from Seberate ($4.80) with Ice Ghost ($41), a half-length away third.
Assistant trainer Calvin McEvoy said the win had not been a surprise.
“At his last run it was a perfect ride, but they went a bit slow and he couldn’t get past the winner,” McEvoy said.
“We put winkers on today, he didn’t jump overly well but the instructions to Raquel were to go forward and take up the race.
“She rode him aggressively but it worked, he responded and kicked on the turn and obviously they didn’t get him.
“It was a big win for the owners, Glentree Racing who have been great supporters of the stable.
“East Indiaman is a lovely big horse with a beautiful action, moves well and you can’t fault him as a type.”
Winning jockey Raquel Clark said it had been fantastic to make the most of her opportunities to ride for trainer Tony McEvoy.
“Tony told me if I wanted to ride him like that I sure as hell could,” Clark said.
“He did a little bit of work to get across but once he got there he just relished it.
“He’s got such a lovely long, big stride and you could feel him kick, he lengthened out and was just too good today.”