McEvoys’ perfect day
Belzella made it a perfect day at Balaklava for trainers Tony & Calvin McEvoy with an easy win in the Jenny Baum Benchmark 60 Handicap (1200m).
The McEvoys took three horses to the mid-north South Australian meeting, and after wins by Sunstone and Tatalina, Belzella wasn’t going to let the stable down.
Stable jockey Barend Vorster rode all three McEvoy runners, and also chalked up another winner at the meeting to ride half of the card.
Well backed from $3 into $2.25 favourite, Belzella raced away in the home straight to score by 3-1/2 lengths from Equichoi ($15) with Equus D’Oro ($7) a head away third.
The four-year-old mare settled back in the field before Vorster weaved her between runners in the home straight for clear running and she charged away.
Belzella was bred and part-owned by a long time McEvoy client, Steve Wicks.
John Cornell, South Australian stable foreman, said it had been a perfect day for the McEvoys.
“It’s nice to bring three to the races and take home three winners,” Cornell said.
“Belzella has always shown us that she is a little bit better than average.
“She’s just taken a little bit of time.
“A few little issues but a good result today.
“She’s just had a few tricky issues that horses get.
“She hurt a tibia behind and had a little bit of a back issue but with our facilities up at Angaston, which are second to none, we can find a way to get these horses right.
“A good result for the owners, and a good result for the stable, and an impeccable ride by Barend.”
Winning jockey Barend Vorster said Belzella was always going to be hard to beat in the run.
“Credit to John (Cornell), Calvin (McEvoy) and everyone at the yard, they’re doing great work” Vorster said.
“Especially with a filly like this – they’ve changed her work around, working up the straight and you can see the result today.
“I wasn’t concerned being inside, she was full of running.
“If I had wanted to come out wide, I would have had to barge my way out.
“She was travelling so well, I just aimed back for an inside run.
“She enjoyed the racing today and will keep improving from here.”