My Boy Birmingham wins again
Track specialist My Boy Birmingham ran his rivals off their feet with a strong victory on the Ballarat Synthetic on Friday, August 19.
A heavily backed $1.85 favourite, My Boy Birmingham scored a 2-1/4 length win in the $50,000 2022 Martin Collins Synthetic Middle Distance Series Final (1500m).
The winner gave trainers Tony & Calvin McEvoy a double at the meeting having scored earlier with Volpe Risorsa.
Ridden by Dean Holland, My Boy Birmingham came across from an outside gate to slowly work his way to the lead then kept running to win comfortably from Air Defence ($12) with Sign of Ussuri ($7), a stablemate of the winner, a half length away third. Another stablemate, Night Passage ($9) finished fourth, a further three lengths astern.
The winner had three wins and a second from his previous four runs on the Ballarat synthetic.
Trainer Calvin McEvoy said My Boy Birmingham had landed some good money with his victory.
“It was a fantastic win, good money and a good bonus as well,” McEvoy said.
“He is a real trier, as I have said previously, he loves this (synthetic) surface.
“He is hard to get a guide on at home because he is a strong going horse and the guys at home do a fantastic job keeping a lid on him.
“My Boy Birmingham is deep into his preparation now, and I actually thought he relaxed a bit more than usual today.
“Normally he jumps and really wants to do it, but Dean was able to take his time.
“I love that he drew out wide, I thought that would suit him, and it was a good result.
“I thought our three runners presented beautifully in the yard, so thank you to the team, they do a fantastic job, and he’s not easy.”
McEvoy said he thought My Boy Birmingham could be freshened up.
“He is deep into his prep so we might back off him now, maybe not turn him out but send him to do some dressage and just take the pressure off him away from the track.
“We can look for some races in six or eight weeks’ time.”
Winning jockey Dean Holland praise My Boy Birmingham.
“He was hard work early days, but to his and the stable’s credit, his manners are really good now.
“He is still quirky, and you have got to know him, but I do think it suited him being drawn wide out today.
“You don’t have to use him out of the gates, just land on his neck, and he’s always going to get there (the front) at some stage.
“You can take your time on him, and he relaxed great.
“I really stepped it up from the 600 (metres) and he was never going to get beat.
“He can run 11-1/2 or 12 (seconds for 200 metres) the whole way so it is a good asset.
“His last run in the Mildura Cup was really, really good behind a decent one and he showed his form again today.
“I would love to see him run a bit further down the track in the future – if he can run 2000 metres or 1600, there are more options for him.
“I think he is getting better with age and going in the right direction.”