Kerrin McEvoy bounces back from a close Caulfield Cup defeat to win on The Messina Nymph in the Listed $120,000 Polytrack Alinghi Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield today.
The Messina Nymph wins for Kerrin McEvoy in the Alinghi Stakes at Caulfield. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
McEvoy was caught out the back on the favourite Lucia Valentina in the Group 1 $3m Crown Golden Ale Caulfield Cup (2400m) before running home to finish third to Admire Rakti and Rising Romance but in contrast the top jockey had The Messina Nymph travelling on the bit in second position after jumping smartly from the gates.
The Commands mare made it back to back wins after winning first up over 1000m at Morphettville on October 4 and trainer Tony McEvoy will step her up in class again and run in the Group 3 $200,000 G.H. Mumm Stakes (1100m) at Flemington on Crown Oaks day.
“She has always shown a lot of talent. She has been physically hard to get there,” McEvoy said.
“She has got good cruising speed and good ability.”
“We will take her to Flemington now, there is a race on Oaks day, I won’t have to train her, just keep her nice and sweet, 1100m down the straight.”
Kerrin McEvoy always loves to ride a winner for his uncle and had the mare well positioned from the start and she raced at her best today.
“It’s nice to win one for the family,” McEvoy said.
“Tony gave her a good chance today on the back of a Adelaide win and she had run some nice races in not bad company.”
“She drew wide today and Tony just left it up to me. She flew the lids and the thing inside of me just really towed me across to the rails.”
“She sat second, travelled like the winner and was never going to get beat.”
McEvoy seemed to have control of the race at the top of the straight and The Messina Nymph ($5.50) held a clear margin of one and half lengths on the line over second placed Cradle Me ($6) with Sino Eagle ($14) a further length away in third spot.
Favourite Anatina ($2.15) had a perfect run behind the leader but was unable to advantage when a run presented itself in the straight and faded to finish seventh.
