Murray Bridge has been a happy hunting ground for Tony and Calvin McEvoy since Gifford Hill opened in August last year and the state’s premier stable will be hoping to build on that success with some royally bred youngsters on Wednesday.
Sunlight’s half-brother Halogen will be out to atone for a disappointing first-up effort, while the stable will kick off the racing careers of two promising young stayers in Around The Horn and Andai Steppes, both debuting over a mile.
Around The Horn is arguably the most interesting runner of the day. He’s the only son of Golden Horn (who won the Epsom Derby and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in 2015) sold in Australia, when he was purchased for $425,000 at the 2019 Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale.
The horse is bred and owned by Colleen and Kevin Bamford, former harness racing identities, who raced 2010 Melbourne Cup winner Americain and McEvoy said he was entrusted with the horse after showing interest in their stock through the sale ring.
“I’ve bought a couple of their yearlings and been the underbidders on a couple as well,” McEvoy said.
“I’ve been looking at their horses for a few years and they decided to send me a horse. They know what they’re doing and I’m hoping we’ve got a really nice staying colt.
“He’s showing nice promise at the moment. He’s a nice style of horse (and) he’s going to be a stayer of course – that’s why he’s running in a mile first-up.”
Likewise, McEvoy said Andai Steppes – a son of Mongolian Khan, bought for $120,000 at the 2019 Karaka Yearling Sale in New Zealand – was a horse with plenty of staying promise. He said SA was the perfect place to start off and avoid some hot races in Melbourne during the spring.
“He’s a beautiful young horse as well and they’ll (both) find their form when they get to a mile and a quarter or a mile and half,” McEvoy said.
“The beautifully big track at the Bridge over the mile looks the perfect place to start them off.
“They’ve been coming through together. I’ve had them over in Melbourne but September/October is not the right time to kick them off in Melbourne, so I decided to bring them back and looking forward to kicking them off here.”
McEvoy said he went back to the drawing board with Halogen, who was beaten into fourth place as favourite when he resumed at Murray Bridge on September 9.
“He disappointed me, he didn’t run to what I know he can do,” McEvoy said.
“That’s why he has the blinkers on. I’ve changed a few things around with him at home and I’m looking for a much better result.”
