Veight’s Group One glory
PIC: Courtesy of Steve Hart
Outstanding three-year-old Veight secured a well-deserved Group 1 victory in the $1 million The Agency George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, March 23.
The win was a 15th Group 1success for trainer Tony McEvoy who now trains in partnership with his son Calvin.
Veight has raced in black type company for most of his career with two Group 2 wins and one Group 3 in his four wins from 10 starts prior to today’s Group 1 assignment.
In the George Ryder, punters thought he had an excellent chance, and he was sensationally backed from $14 into his starting price of $7.
Jockey Damien Lane had Veight away brilliantly and the colt was able to settle behind the speed in the early running.
Lane pulled him into clear running turning for home before asking for a supreme effort and the colt responded.
Veight fought on strongly to prevail by a short head from Lady Laguna ($8.50) with Militarize ($6) a length away third.
The win took his stakes past $2 million. Trainer Tony McEvoy was ecstatic with the victory.
“What a star,” McEvoy said.
“His racing style helps a lot.
“He begins well, Damien has so much confidence in him, he put him into the race, then he comes back and relaxes.
“Damien counted to 10 (on straightening). It was so deserved, I am so proud of the horse, thanks to all of my team.
“For Wayne Mitchell, who has been my biggest supporter, he owns most of this horse, and I am so pleased to win one of these for him.”
McEvoy said he was looking forward to the $10,000,000 Golden Eagle in the spring as a possible target for Veight.
Winning jockey Damien Lane said Veight was a courageous racehorse.
“He’s never put in a poor performance in his career,” Lane said.
“He’s just a tough, honest horse.
“He jumps well, he gives himself the best chance and he’s just so genuine. When you really ask him to dig deep he does. He’s so genuine.
“Credit must go to Tony and Calvin for having a go; it secures his future as a stallion”.
Lane said the race had worked out perfectly.
“Trying to do a speed map for an 18-horse field, I was just confusing myself looking at it before the race, so I just thought I’d be positive early.
“He’s got a great attribute where he can begin and show some speed then switch off and still show the finish at the end.
“When Think About It came across it was just perfect, he was going to get a great trail.
“When I turned for home and I felt I had him covered and I thought I was going to go very close to winning.”