Oceansprint in a breeze

Oceansprint made an impressive winning debut at Sportsbet Ballarat on Sunday, May 25.

The two-year-old was given a solid lead up preparation by trainers Tony & Calvin McEvoy for today’s Evergreen Turf Maiden (1000m).

Ridden by Harry Coffey, Oceansprint ($2.80) showed good speed to lead from gate two, and was never really challenged winning eased down by 1-1/4 lengths from Sheez Elegant ($41) with Melbourne Magic ($2.40 fav), a neck away third.

The gelding, after establishing his break in front, showed good acceleration turning for home to build a race-winning lead.

Trainer Calvin McEvoy said it had been a great win.

“He is a two-year-old that has been well schooled, he has quite a number of jump outs,” McEvoy said.

“We actually thought he had been sold to Hong Kong but that deal fell over.

“It is a great thrill for the Sash and Lou Petrevski, they are great supporters of our stable, Bert and Jim Illievski – Jim and Sasha are on course today.

“I thought Oceansprint was very impressive, it is quite windy today, so to control and then kick like he did was fantastic, he is a nice horse.

“He had six jump outs as education for his debut, he was winning them, but I didn’t think he was learning enough.

“I didn’t want to go to the races and said to Sash to give him more education, and it has worked out well and I thank all the owners for their patience.

Winning jockey Harry Coffey said Oceansprint had been well presented by the trainers.

“It was nice when the ‘Calvinator’ presents them as sit and steers,” Coffey said.

“Cal (Calvin) would be relieved to get a win early.

“It was nice to get a win with the owners here to watch.

“They have been very patient with him, he has had a lot of trials to make sure he was right when we went to the races.

“He’s a fast horse, he jumps and puts himself there and I thought he did a good job today because he is still green.

“The wind was hitting him in the race, but he sustained a good gallop the whole way.

“He is a fast horse that likes to sit on the speed.

“Today, on his home deck with a bit of give in the ground, he loved it.