Moana Spirit shines again

Diamonds might be a girl’s best friend, but it was two-year-old filly Moana Spirit sparkling at Geelong on Saturday, January 3.

Trained by Tony & Calvin McEvoy, Moana Spirit raced away to win the Rex Gorell Volkswagen Geelong Diamond (1100m) with brilliant finishing burst.

Owned by Yu Long Investments, the filly settled near last but was asked to improve approaching the home turn by jockey Luke Currie.

In the straight, Currie asked Moana Spirit ($4.80) to lengthen, and she accelerated to win running away by two lengths from Ghana’s Akan ($2.35 fav) with Fine Sierra ($16) a length away third.

Trainer Calvin McEvoy said Moana Spirit was a genuine improver.

“She is a beautiful laid-back filly,” McEvoy said.

“She is very unassuming and raw in her work going to Adelaide where she won.

“We didn’t expect a huge amount, but she went across and was able to win.

“Since she has returned to Flemington we noticed she had really switched on.

“Today, we came in under the radar with a few others having big wraps on them.

“It was fantastic for team Yu Long to win with one of their home breds.

“We left it completely up to Luke for the tactics today and he gave her a lovely ride.

“She was really travelling coming into the bend. She knuckled down to get past the favourite and she did.

“Everything tells us she will be better at three but after today we will have to give consideration to the Blue Diamond Stakes.”

Winning jockey Luke Currie agrees the best is ahead for Moana Spirit.

“She has improved a lot,” Currie said.

“I didn’t think she was going as well as a few of the others early on.

“She went to Adelaide and had basically a barrier trial in a three-horse race winning easily.

“She jumped out well since then and today was really dynamic.

“She still needs to strengthen and furnish but her main attribute is her turn of foot.

“We got the right run today and lobbed onto the favourite’s back turning.

“She was really sharp when I asked her.

“She can only win but I believe she will be even better when she furnishes in time.

“But she has a great attitude and that will take her a long way.”