Pyrois patience rewarded
Promising Pyrois, who has come back from near death, scored a narrow, but impressive, victory at Seymour on Friday, April 19.
The Tony & Calvin McEvoy-trained four-year-old ran home strongly to score a half head win in the Choices Flooring Seymour & Euroa Benchmark 58 Handicap (1200m).
Jockey Harry Coffey used a mixture of skill and strength to land the win on Pyrois ($2.40 fav) from Eamonn’s Memory ($20) with Moko Music ($8), 1-1/4 lengths away third.
Pyrois was injured in a paddock accident last year and it had been touch and go whether he would survive, but excellent veterinary work, resulted in a complete recovery.
At Seymour, after jumping away in the field of 12, Pyrois drifted back to near last before Coffey angled him to the centre of the track.
The gelding ran home well with the runner-up on his outside.
Coffey was urging Pyrois to victory but when Eammon’s Memory made a dive, he lifted the favourite over the line.
Rayan Moore, Racing Manager for the McEvoys, said while it was narrow, Pyrois had arrived in time.
“Dennis Cometti (famed football broadcaster) would say, centimetre perfect,” Moore said.
“It was a well-timed ride.
“Things do go wrong in races, and it went wrong.
“We thought he would be a lost closer, he stepped slow, but Harry (Coffey) didn’t panic, that is why you put him on.
“He summed it up really well and timed it nicely.
“The team has been really confident in the way this horse has been tracking.
“He made it a little bit hard for himself today but got the job done.
“He will take good confidence out of this and hopefully go through the grades.
“Credit to the My Racehorse team, they could have easily chucked in the towel after he got injured in the paddock, but they let us do what we needed to do with the horse, and they have been rewarded today.”
Winning jockey Harry Coffey said it had been a good win by Pyrois.
“He had to fight for it because the second horse really had a go,” Coffey said.
“I think there is more to come, and he should get better.
“He wanted to hang in again today, but it wasn’t as bad as his last run at Ballarat.
“With racing and fitness, he is getting better.
“He travelled into the race like he was going to win easy.
“One I went for him he levelled out like a horse that may want a little further in distance.
“I think there is more to come, and I don’t think it will be his only win for the preparation.
“He’s done a good job, and the team has done a really good job to get him back here.
“Hopefully there is some more fun to be had.”