McEvoy Maribyrnong quinella

Trainer Tony McEvoy started 2023 Melbourne Cup day with his third win in the feature $200,000 Group 3 Darley Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) in the past eight years.

Today, now training in partnership with his son Calvin, McEvoy supplied the quinella with Dublin Down, a $370,000 Magic Millions purchase, proving a shade too strong for Blue Stratum.

With the benefit of two previous runs, one down the Flemington straight, Dublin Down ($11), ridden by Zac Purton, finished powerfully to beat first starter Blue Stratum ($3.90) by a long head with Odinson ($4.80) a similar margin away third.

McEvoy was training solo when he won the Maribyrnong in 2017 with Aspect and followed up a year later with Run Naan.

In the small field of eight, Dublin Down was able to settle midfield before Purton asked the colt to improve.

Past the 200 metres, Blue Stratum, ridden by Damien Lane, which had been racing behind the leader, accelerated to take the lead.

However, having his first start and new to racing, the colt started to run around, and his stablemate moved alongside, and the pair went to the line with Dublin Down grabbing victory.

Trainer Calvin McEvoy was proud for the training partnership to have supplied the quinella in the Group 3 race.

“There was no doubt the race experience was a help in giving Dublin Down the win,” McEvoy said.

“It was really exciting (to have the quinella), well done to all the team.

“It is a job to get these two-year-olds up and going and to handle an occasion like today.

“Both of our colts handled it beautifully, but Dublin Down, with the experience, was too smart.

“We go to the sales, like everyone, we put our necks on the line, get some good clients involved and I believe we have a good system.

“These are horses that are going to get better, especially the winner, he is going to be a lovely horse, probably a Guineas type next year.”

McEvoy said the stable would enjoy the quinella before deciding the immediate futures of both colts.

“Blue Stratum was fantastic,” McEvoy said.

“He hit the front, but inexperience got him beat, he is a nice horse as well.

Hong Kong based winning jockey Zac Purton was delighted to pick up a Group 3 win on Melbourne Cup day.

“A little bit of give in the track, and race fitness helped Dublin Down,” Purton said.

“The pace of the race mid-race suited him when the Godolphin horse (leader, Admitted) rolled along a bit and gave him something to chase.

“He came into at the right time but when he got to the front he got a little bit lost.

“He got challenged but got down and did his job again, a very good effort.”