Maha magnificent

Talented three-year-old filly Maha earned herself a shot at the final feature race of the season in South Australia with a brilliant win at Gawler on Saturday, July 10.

Trained by Tony & Calvin McEvoy, Maha led throughout to win the Coopers Brewery Handicap (1100m).

A well backed $2.35 favourite, the three-year-old filly, ridden by Barend Vorster, led comfortably from gate two and was never challenged in a two-length win from Extreme Thrill ($7) with Extra Mile ($9) a similar margin away third.

Vorster had Maha away quickly and was able to control the tempo in the run to the home turn.

Once in the straight he asked the filly to accelerate, and she dashed away to win easily.

Trainer Tony McEvoy said the Listed $107,250 TAB Lightning Stakes (1050m) at Morphettville on Saturday, July 31 would be the perfect next run.

The race is a set weight race for two and three-year-olds.

“I spoke with Tim Stakemire, racing manager for owner Sheikh Maktoum, about bringing the filly across from our Ballarat stable for a few races in South Australia,” McEvoy said.

“We picked this race out as the perfect lead up to the Lightning.

“Even though she was opposed to older horses today, I thought Maha was ideally placed.

“Her last run in the Creswick Stakes at Flemington was quite good, and from the draw, I felt she would take beating.”

Maha now has three wins and a second from just 10 starts and looks well placed in the Lightning Stakes.