Summer shines bright
PIC courtesy of @MMcInallyPhotos
Astute placing by trainers Tony & Calvin McEvoy resulted in star filly Arabian Summer taking out the $1 million Magic Millions National 2YO Classic (1050m) at Doomben on Saturday, May 25.
The trainers opted to spell Arabian Summer in Queensland after she ran a brave fifth in the Magic Millions at the Gold Coast on January 13.
When she went into pre-training, the McEvoys and Racing Manager Rayan Moore saw the Magic Millions National Classic on the calendar and decided it was a perfect kick off for her next campaign.
Regular jockey Harry Coffey flew up from Melbourne to ride the filly which drew gate six in the field of 12.
Coffey found himself caught wide a trail before asking her to extend in the home straight.
Arabian Summer ($12) ran home strongly to win by a head from King Of Roseau ($41) with Embassy ($8), two lengths away third.
Trainer Calvin McEvoy was ecstatic by Arabian Summer’s win which took the filly’s stakes earnings to $943,600 from just six starts.
“It is a fantastic result for the ownership and us,” McEvoy said.
“A big thank you to Toby Edmonds and his team. She’s been housed with him. He’s been looking after her so well and keeping us updated.
“Julian Blaxland and Casey Fogden did the pre-training with her.”
McEvoy said Arabian Summer had prepared for today’s race with a nice second in a trial at Doomben on May 7.
“The track was a little bit tired that day and dad was up, and he went and walked it,” he said.
“That was the game plan. She’s been tested on this sort of ground before.
“She’s going to get a rude shock when she gets back to the Ballarat winter.”
McEvoy said Arabian Summer’s races would be spaced but the Lightning Stakes in Adelaide at the end of July could be an option.
Winning jockey Harry Coffey said Arabian Summer had been very good.
“She was very tough today,” Coffey said, “she’s a real professional and credit to everyone involved with her.
“They had the faith to leave her up here and that this race would really suit. I just turned up this morning on a plane and got the goods.
“It is pretty awesome to be associated with her and I’m really thankful to the connections and also Tony and Calvin for having faith in me and getting me up here to partner her.
“It was an awesome effort.
“She didn’t have the easiest of runs. I was a bit exposed wide out, but I got a nice cart around the bend following Embassy he took us to a nice part of the track, and she let down well.
“The last 50-metres was a bit scary but that is always the case.”
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