It’s not so unusual

Promising stayer So Unusual stepped up to metropolitan class with a strong win at Sandown Hillside on Saturday, January 7.

Trained by Tony & Calvin McEvoy, So Unusual has now won two of his four starts since being purchased from New Zealand having just won a maiden.

Ridden by Dean Holland, the four-year-old was given the run of the race before taking the lead turning for home and outstaying his rivals over the final 400 metres of the Shaun Morris Handicap (2400m).

Starting a well backed $5.50 chance, So Unusual won by a long head from Wahine Toa ($4.40 fav) with Sous Les Nuages ($26), 2-1/2 lengths away third.

Rayan Moore, Racing Manager for the McEvoys, said he was delighted for the 100 owners in the My Racehorse group included in the ownership.

“A lot of them were at Sandown to enjoy the win,” Moore said.

“We were advised of So Unusual by a bloodstock agent.

“Tony and I watched videos of the horse and decided to buy him, so it was up to me to form the ownership group.

“A number of our good stable clients opted to be involved with the final percentage going to the My Racehorse group.

“Dean rode him beautifully today and the horse showed he can run a strong 2400 metres.

“Now the Saturday metro box has been ticked, as well as 2400 metres, Tony & Calvin can look at the racing calendar to frame a program for the horse.”

Winning jockey Dean Holland was impressed by So Unusual’s winning performance.

“It was a great training performance by the team,” Holland said.

“We drew the right barrier but didn’t want to ride him out of his comfort zone.

“We landed behind the leaders, and it was a nicely run race.

“I was able to manoeuvere off the fence into clear galloping room at the top of the straight.

“We were challenged once, fought them off, then another challenger late, so it was a really tough effort by the horse.

“He ran out the 2400 (metres) really well, and I can’t see why we couldn’t run him in a nice staying race over a bit further.

“I presented at the top of the straight off a pretty hot speed, they were dropping like flies in front of me, so I have to manoeuvere off when I did.

“I just tried to cuddle down the dip, save as much as I could for the last 100 (metres), so it was a really good effort at his first try at the trip.”