3 minute read
Trainer and jockey quotes following the Magic Millions Ballarat 2yo Classic won by Arabian Summer at Ballarat on Saturday.
Race Result:
1st: Arabian Summer (T & C McEvoy/H Coffey) - $2.80 fav
2nd: Parkour (J Cummings/J Kah) - $5
3rd: Vianarra (T Busutin & N Young/J Allen) - $26
Winning Time: 56.70 Last 600m: N/A
Margins: 3-1/2L x Neck
Winning Trainer: Tony & Calvin McEvoy (Tony speaking)
Handling the track?: "She was really good. I think having the benefit of having those two hard runs in Listed grade held her in really good stead. Dropping in grade, walking over the road, on our home deck, she really impressed me today. It's going to be a hard race to weigh up of what level it is this race, but it's worth a lot of money and she was super impressive. We've got to make a decision now on whether to go north. She's so professional and the Gold Coast suits horses that race like her. We'll enjoy today, let the dust settle and see what happens."
Recollections on buying her: "Calvin actually found her. I've got to take my hat off to him. He came to me and said 'dad, we've got to look at this one in book two'. I said we've got enough on our list, so he forced me to come and have a look and she just looked like a pocket rocket and I thought we'd steal this one. Unfortunately there was a lot of people found her and we had to pay $220,000 for her, but I'm so pleased we did. She's a really nice filly that has two Stakes placings and a rich race today. I'm really proud of her."
Winning Jockey: Harry Coffey
Question mark on the going: "It didn't feel soft. She was really quick and moved well throughout. The ground, even though it's wet, is very clean still. When it chops up, it will become more testing. She got to the front easily and controlled it and I was expecting her to quicken well, but she really did in those conditions."
On improvement: "Today was very suitable and she knows where she is. Home track advantage was the key but it's a fair drop in grade. I thought her Caulfield run was a really good run and then she got lost down the straight in a pretty smart race at Flemington. All she had to to was turn up and even if she wasn't at her best, I thought she'd still win. I think it's really good reward for the stable. Their two-year-olds have run really well early in the season and it's fitting you win the main two-year-old race on your home town Cup Day. They're really well educated and they're really good at placing them and they have had a really outstanding start to the two-year-old season."
