SAVATOXL (Kuroshio – Li’l Miss Hayley) jumped on the bunny and just kept going, defying all comers and putting a big margin in them in the end when he scored in the $127,000 Gr 3 DC McKay Stakes over 1100m at Morphettville.
Beautifully ridden by Barend Vorster for Team mCEvoy he just destroyed his rivals winning by over 3 lengths with a powerful speed display from the hard-charging PANDEMIC (Sepoy – Cataclysm) and STREET LIFE (Street Boss – Mimiele).
“He’s a cracker. Just a really tough horse,” said Calvin McEvoy the young co-trainer.
“Barend rode him perfectly and he responded well.”
When asked if that win made him consider the upcoming Gr 1 Goodwood, McEvoy just smiled.
“His form is quite good over a lot of distances and he is very versatile but we actually think he’s a sprinter so the Goodwood should be a good race for him after that display.”
Noticeably absent from proceedings was Cal’s father Tony McEvoy who normally would be on hand to cheer home a stakes winner, especially in Adelaide.
“Oh, I’ve got to give a shout out to the old man. He got his appendix out yesterday and is recovering.”
This win, the 15th of the former Northern Territory star’s career, will be an ideal tonic for the trainer going forward.
The victory took Savatoxl’s prize money haul to over $440,000.
Pandemic was last on the home turn and he weaved a great passage between runners to fly home for 2nd. Willy Pike rode him and his run had back me in the Goodwood written all over him.