Following Sea sweeps to victory
A step up in distance paid a winning dividend as Following Sea swept his rivals away at Ararat on Thursday, February 29.
The Tony & Calvin McEvoy-trained three-year-old proved a class above the opposition in the Harvey Norman Ararat Maiden Highweight (2200m).
It was astute placement by the trainers as Following Sea picked up a VOBIS Silver Owners Bonus as well as the first prizemoney.
The Highweight was restricted to cross-country jockeys and Aaron Kuru gave a perfect ride on Following Sea.
He settled the gelding third on the fence before asking him to improve about 500 metres from the finish.
Following Sea ($2.50 fav) loomed up and quickly put the leaders away, and under Kuru’s hard riding maintained a good advantage winning by three lengths from Crafty Boss ($4.40) with Suffolk Star ($2.70), two and a half lengths away third.
Lightly raced, the gelding looks to have a future as a stayer.
Stable foreman Tim Hanley said it had been a pleasing victory by Following Sea.
“He has been quite a frustrating horse,” Hanley said.
“He has shown a lot all the way through his career.
“He has been screaming out for further, and after today, that is obviously what he wants.
“Last start over the mile (1600m), it wasn’t a terrible run, but we had expected a bit more.
“He is a bit of a one-batter, and when he hit the front on the turn I knew he would be pretty hard to beat.”
Hanley said when Following Sea took the lead he had tended to float, not sure how to put away the opposition.
“When he hit the front I thought he had no idea, but the others weren’t good enough to run him down.
Winning jockey Aaron Kuru wasn’t surprised by the victory.
“He’s been knocking on the door,” Kuru said.
“He has obviously showed ability and was far better than this grade.
“I thought it was great placement by Tony & Calvin, first up over this trip they all carry a bit of weight.
“He did it very easily today.
“I got to the front way too soon and I needed something to push me along.
“He is only going to get better as he goes out in trip, and maybe with the shades (blinkers) on as well.