Navy Black successful on debut

Two-year-old filly Navy Black gave age and experience to her rivals on the Ballarat Synthetic track on Tuesday, July 5 but still came away a winner.

Backed from $2.50 into $1.55 favourite, Navy Black showed great heart to score a long head win in the Polytrack Maiden (1200m).

Trained by Tony & Calvin McEvoy, and ridden by Dean Holland, the daughter of Merchant Navy was left in front 400 metres from home and fought on strongly to beat Northwood Poppet ($8) with Lushfields ($20), a further head away third.

From her good draw of three, Navy Black settled just behind the leaders early before Holland angled her into the running line about 500 metres from home.

The filly quickly established a break but then had to withstand the late challenges from the placegetters. She repulsed their bursts to claim victory.

Trainer Calvin McEvoy was impressed by Navy Black’s debut win.

“It was a really good result,” McEvoy said.

“A two-year-old filly taking on much more experienced opposition on a windy day.

“I was very proud of her, and she toughed it out late.

“She was exposed from the top of the straight and had to tough it out.”

McEvoy said he believed Navy Black had a promising future.

“On what she did today she will certainly improve.

“I don’t know how much further we will go this time in or whether we back off her.

“I think she is a nice filly for the future.”

Winning jockey Dean Holland agreed.

“She had the right run,” Holland said.

“I presented her at the 500 (metres) to give her a bit of clear air.

“She was going to put them away really easy, but she probably waited for them a little bit.

“She is still pretty green, and the others had raced, so obviously had race experience.

“She did wait for them in the straight. When they got to her, she did go again.

“She showed me a bit a couple of weeks ago in a jump out – she was a bit new but had ability.

“It was good to get the job done at her first start and she will gradually improve.

“The team has done a great job with her and placed her perfectly, and she won accordingly.”