Brilliant Miss Brixton

Lightly raced mare Miss Brixton showed the benefit of patience with a game win at Balaklava on Cup day, Wednesday, September 11.

A drifter from $4 to $8, Miss Brixton was given a beautiful ride by Barend Vorster to win the Haulmark Benchmark 56 Handicap (1400m) for co-trainers Tony and Calvin McEvoy.

The victory gave the four-year-old mare two wins from just four race starts.

After sitting in fourth spot in the run, Vorster took Miss Brixton up to challenge early in the home straight and she drew clear to win by 1-1/2 lengths from Miss Harmonium ($12) with Exalted Traveller ($3.80 equal fa), three-quarters of a length away third.

Co-trainer Calvin McEvoy said the win was a reward for the owners.

“If you could get a run like that for every horse you took to the races you would be pretty happy,” McEvoy said.

“She was strong, ran well though the line and Barend gave her a beautiful ride.

“She has taken a long time to come to hand.

“If you look at her physically, she is very long and has a huge frame.

“We didn’t have her as a young horse, but I can imagine she could have been quite backwards, so we’ve taken our time and thanks to the owners for their patience.

“They are now being rewarded.”

Winning jockey Barend Vorster paid tribute to the Kildalton Park team.

“Credit must go to Tony and the team,” Vorster said.

“She is not the soundest of mares, so they have got her into really good shape today.

“She travelled beautifully today, and when I asked her, she was there.

“With a bit of a tail wind today you have to be up and running turning for home.

“I tried to get her nicely balanced up, have her in the right position and let her be strong to the line.

“It was great to see a big crowd here today and supporting the club and the sport.”