Immerse impresses

Three-year-old filly Immerse provided a perfect start for trainers Tony & Calvin McEvoy and their new association with Godolphin.

Immerse proved too strong for her rivals in the McGrath Ballarat Maiden (1000m) on the Ballarat Synthetic on Thursday, August 7.

Starting the $2 favourite, the filly, ridden by Harry Coffey, scored by three-quarters of a length from French Lolly ($21) with Heavenly Conquest ($2.40), a quarter of a length away third.

After jumping well and holding the inside, Coffey was crossed coming off the back straight but quickly came away to sit outside the leader.

Coffey asked Immerse to lengthen in the home straight and she grabbed a winning break but was tending to look around when clear enabling the runner up to take late ground.

Winning trainer Calvin McEvoy said Immerse was a filly with potential.

“That was fantastic,” McEvoy said.

“She is a filly with a very good pedigree, she is a half to Traffic Warden, so it is important she goes to the races and performs.

“We picked a fairly low-key kick off point for her.

“I didn’t think she had all the favours today but was tough and got the job done.

“She will really come on from this.”

McEvoy said Immerse was still learning her racing craft.

“The feedback from our riders is that she moves very well but still a little bit green and working it all out.

“It is nice when they can win races when they are still working it out.

“It was fantastic to get the monkey off the back with Godolphin, and we will look to place Immerse through her grades.

“She will love getting back on the grass and stepping up in grade.”

Winning jockey Harry Coffey said he always loved wearing the Godolphin colours.

“Obviously it was good to win for Tony & Calvin with their first runner for Godolphin,” Coffey said.

“It was nice I could be involved.

“She was good and had been prepped up well by the team when James (Cummings) was in charge and the guys have gone along nicely with her.

“I haven’t had a lot to do with her, but my first impressions are very good.

“She quickened very nicely, and I thought I had the race in my keeping very quickly in the straight.

“However, late she was having a good look around so there is still some greenness there.

“It might have only been a maiden on the syntho, but I think there is a ton of improvement there.

“She will be able to go up in grade and hold herself well.”