Sunset makes it four

A virtual last stride win by the promising Sunset Dreaming gave trainers Tony & Calvin McEvoy and jockey Harry Coffey four of a kind at Ballarat on Thursday, October 26.

The McEvoys and Coffey won half of the eight-race Ballarat program having scored previously with Heart Of Glass, Batrana and Under And Over.

Perhaps they were most keen of their winners to be Sunset Dreaming, but the filly left it very late to snare a victory in the Hygain Winners Choice Benchmark 64 Handicap (1200m).

Sunset Dreaming ($2.10) scored by a half head from Miss Titeline ($41) with Sirius Statement ($19), 2-1/4 lengths away third.

The daughter of Impending, which had a win and close second from her only other two starts, was caught wide midfield in the run to the home turn.

She took a while to lengthen in the home straight with the runner up sprinting through on the fence to take the lead. However, Sunset Dreaming came late to grab a photo finish win.

Trainer Tony McEvoy believes Sunset Dreaming has a big future.

“She has always shown us that she is a black type filly,” McEvoy said.

“We have just taken our time to get her to learn her craft.

“I think today she showed she is really looking for further but knuckled down very strongly.

“I was thinking the Thoroughbred Club could be an option for her but that, 1200 metres, might be too short for her now.

“There is a race like the Twilight Glow at the end of the carnival which we can give some consideration.

“It is really a nice time of year to have fillies like Sunset Dreaming in form.

“All our winners were well placed today, Calvin and Rayan (Moore) are doing a good job and all my team at home, presenting them so well, it has been a great team effort and I am overjoyed for everybody. “

McEvoy confirmed Sunset Dreaming had been at the top of the pecking order of his runners at Ballarat.

“I think she showed today that she is now ready to get to further distance, she is a very good filly.”

Winning jockey Harry Coffey agreed with the trainer’s thoughts.

“We had a good day, but she didn’t win as well as I thought she might,” Coffey said.

“I really like her. She was the horse I was most looking forward to riding today.

“She didn’t win quite as well as I would have liked but she did as good job.

“She was out of her comfort zone the whole way, chasing a good gallop.

“It took away her turn of foot, but she still got the job done.

“I think she is a horse that will race through the grades.

“I think we will see her best at 1600 metres. She is a nice filly and as she gets out over further she has got the right attitude, breathes well and does everything right she will be able to extend and race up in grade.”