Pick ‘N’ Mix’s brilliant debut

New Zealand bred filly Pick ‘N’ Mix made an auspicious debut at Cranbourne on Friday, December 20.

Purchased by supremely successful O T I Racing, Pick ‘N’ Mix jumped well and led throughout in the Beraldo Coffee Maiden (1200m).

Trainers Tony & Calvin McEvoy gave her two trials to ready the filly for her race debut and she showed the benefit with a brilliant performance.

Pick ‘N’ Mix ($4.40), ridden by Daniel Stackhouse, jumped nicely, found the lead and lengthened in the run home to score by 1-3/4 lengths from Egerton ($1.40 fav) with Kentucky Women ($61), 4-1/4 lengths away third.

The winner returned to a rousing reception from the O T I team and an excited group of owners.

Rayan Moore, Racing Manager for McEvoy Mitchell Racing, said it had been a fabulous debut by Pick ‘N’ Mix.

“I was impressed by the way she handled the whole occasion,” Moore said.

“They had to stand in the barriers longer than they normally do. She coped really well with that and jumped straight to the front.

“Stacky (Daniel Stackhouse) rated her beautifully and it was pretty painless.

“We think she is a Saturday horse minimum, she has always shown that sort of ability.

“We are in no rush and will take her through the grades.

“Terry (Henderson) and the group at O T I and our owners are really patient. We will let the dust settle and see where we go next.”

Winning jockey Daniel Stackhouse was very impressed by Pick ‘N’ Mix.

“She was great,” Stackhouse said.

“She was in the gates for a long time, she got a little bit fizzed up but handled the occasion really well.

“She jumped well and wanted to run through the bridle a little bit, but I was working with her to go at the right tempo.

“She dropped her head from the 800 (metres), waited until she got balanced around the corner, asked her to kick and she went through her gears really well and held a strong gallop.

“The more she got into the race, the better she went.

“She has got a lot of ability and with racing and age should improve mentally and she is in the right stable to develop.”