Training masterclass
Trainer Tony McEvoy broke his normal pattern to enable Laure Me In to score a strong win at Pakenham on Saturday, December 8.
It is rare for McEvoy to back up his horses from week-to-week and even more unusual to have them run just three days after their previous start.
But that is what he did at Pakenham with Laure Me In running home powerfully to win the Hanson Benchmark 70 Handicap (1600m).
Backed from $4.50 into $3.80 and ridden by Luke Currie, Laure Me In proved too strong scoring by 1-1/4 lengths from Honeywine ($31) with North Afrika ($16) a head away third.
The four-year-old ran an excellent second over 1400 metres at Sandown last Wednesday but after the gelding pulled up well, McEvoy decided to let him go around at Pakenham and it returned a winning dividend.
Michael Shepherdson, Melbourne stable foreman, said Laure Me In had turned in a solid effort.
“He pulled up well after Wednesday and went to the beach and was bright, so Tony had no hesitation in backing him up,” Shepherdson said.
“He is a horse with the right constitution to back up.
“There wasn’t much speed on at Sandown but today there was good pace, and the extra trip also suited.
“The stable believes Laure Me In is capable of going through the grades.”
Winning jockey Luke Currie admitted he had been surprised when he saw Laure Me In had accepted for Pakenham.
“I actually rang Tony to see if he would run,” Currie said.
“Credit to Tony and the team, they knew the horse and were able to bring him to the track to win.
“I had to ride him upside down at Sandown with no speed in the race. Today, with the pace on, he was able to settle back in the field.
“I got him wound up early and he ran through the line strongly.”