Tewkesbury terrific

Improving three-year-old Tewkesbury outstayed his rivals to win at Ballarat on Wednesday, April 5.

Despite not having raced for six weeks, Tewkesbury was tough in taking out the Evergreen Turf Maiden (2000m).

Trained by Tony & Calvin McEvoy, the three-year-old, a $10 chance, raced on speed before drawing clear to score by 1-3/4 lengths.

Winning Bid ($2.80 fav) came home second, 1-1/2 lengths in front of One More Kiss ($3.30).

Ridden by Declan Bates, Tewkesbury settled third on a good tempo before taking the lead on the home turn and holding off his rivals.

Trainer Calvin McEvoy said it had been an impressive, and tough, win.

“He’s a promising young horse,” McEvoy said.

“We’ve always had a decent opinion of him, he’s had races which haven’t been run to suit.

“Six weeks between runs, we generally like to give them a jump out, but he had a little bit of a bruised foot and we missed that.

“”It has been a terrific effort from the team, they have kept him up and looking fantastic, and presented well.

“A beautiful ride by Dec (Bates) as well.”

McEvoy said he and Tony would see how the colt pulled up before deciding his future program.

“He holds his condition really well, he’s a good type and is easy to train at home.

“We’ll take him through his grades, and I think he will run further and the South Australian Derby might come under consideration.

“It was a genuinely run maiden today and Dec (Bates) probably had to present him earlier than he would have liked.

“It was good to win for a group of patient owners, including Bill Ellis who is on course today, he is a terrific owner.”

Winning jockey Declan Bates was impressed by the tough win by Tewkesbury.

“It was a good training performance, and a good tough performance by the horse,” Bates said.

“I think they could probably stretch him to a mile and a half (2400m).

“I committed quite a long way from home.

“The leaders just came right back to me, so I felt once I hit the front I had to commit, so I have asked quite a bit of him.

“I could hear Ollie (Damien Oliver on Winning Bid) coming behind me with that roar.

“Once he got close, I actually thought my horse was pulling away late.

“There is no reason he can’t step up in trip.”