Give Giggles has last laugh

Punters who plunged Give Giggles from $2.40 into $1.40 had to wait right to the winning post before being able to break into a laugh.

The Tony & Calvin McEvoy-trained Give Giggles, ridden by Blake Shinn, was given a strong challenge for all of the the Mortimer Petroleum Maiden (1100m).

After leading throughout, the three-year-old filly had a short neck to spare at the finish from Subliminal ($3.70) with Impending Diamond ($19) a distant third, six lengths away.

Owned by Graham and Linda Huddy’s Peachester Lodge Pty Ltd, Give Giggles jumped well and had no trouble railing through to lead.

The runner-up also began well and raced with the filly to the home turn.

When the McEvoy-trained daughter of stallion War Decree lengthened in the home straight, Subliminal refused to go away but could never head off the winner.

Tim Hanley, stable foreman for the trainers, said the win had been tougher than expected.

“She’s tough and we learnt that from her first start,” Hanley said, “and she needed to be today.

“I would like to say it was painless to watch but I was never not confident with Blake Shinn aboard.

“I always felt confident she would get the job done late.

“Tony and Calvin left it (the tactics) up to Blake, but we knew she wouldn’t be too far away.

“In a small field, she is pretty push-button and does most things right, so there weren’t too many instructions.”

Winning jockey Blake Shinn said Give Giggles deserved the victory.

“Her first up debut run was full of merit,” Shinn said.

“She came here today and presented well on her home track.

“She did most things right but got a little bit lost on the turn and up the straight.

“The second horse put up a good challenge but she was equally up to the task and did a good job.”