Raabeeha wins easily

Promising three-year-old filly Raabeeha again demonstrated her staying potential with a dominant win at Murray Bridge on Wednesday, November 13.

In bringing up a Murray Bridge double for trainers Tony & Calvin McEvoy and jockey Barend Vorster, Raabeeha was way too strong for Class One/Maiden rivals in the Coonara Plate (1800m).

A red-hot $1.35 favourite, the filly cruised home 4-1/2 lengths clear from Playful Host ($101) with Pierro’s Promise ($19), a half-length away third.

Vorster sat second on the talented filly before sending her for home in the straight and she was way too good.

Raabeeha broke her maiden status at Murray Bridge on October 2 before leading up when finishing a close up fifth in the Listed Hill Smith Stakes (1800m) at Morphettville on October 12, ridden by Paul Gatt.

Trainer Calvin McEvoy said the filly had untapped potential.

“She warranted a run in the Hill Smith after her impressive maiden win,” McEvoy said.

“It was a brave effort in the Hill Smith after leading and being beaten just over a length.

“She is a month between runs, she’s very fit and presented beautifully here today.

“The form out of the Hill Smith has been very good so we came here full of confidence and she was well ridden by Barend.

“When she ran in the Hill Smith, we didn’t give Gatty (Paul Gatt) much an option and asked him to go forward.

“Post-race he said the filly would be better with a sit.

“The instructions to Barend today were to be positive but she doesn’t need to lead.

“He did it beautifully and had the filly in a good rhythm – she is an improving staying type of filly.”

McEvoy said Raabeeha was building a nice profile and while she was racing well, he felt she would stay in training.

Winning jockey Barend Vorster said he loved riding at Murray Bridge.

“It’s a lovely surface and a lovely track,” Vorster said.

“Coming here you always have confidence because you have nice horses, but you can give them every chance.

“Tony suggested with this filly she didn’t need to lead so I just rode her comfortable.

“I got a beautiful lead and going through the 600-metre mark got her to bowl up to the front.

“She’s got a little bit of quality and went on with it nicely.

“When you are coming here with a horse with a little bit of acceleration when you are turning for home into a head wind they still have got to catch up.

“If they are going to quicken up into it they are always going to be hard to catch.

“On paper she looked much better than them and I’m glad she showed it.

“She has come back like she just had a barrier trial and if Tony step hers up I think she might have a black type win in her.”