Andrew Mallyon gets the chance to improve on an impressive recent strike rate for Tony McEvoy with two rides for the trainer at Sandown.
Mallyon has four winners from six rides for McEvoy this season, highlighted by two-year-old Run Naan’s Group Three Maribyrnong Plate victory at Flemington during the Melbourne Cup carnival.
The jockey also rode Run Naan to his debut win at Bendigo last month while another of the wins was aboard three-year-old Vinland at the same track on November 1 when the colt broke his maiden stylishly.
Vinland then stepped up in class and distance in the Group Two Sandown Guineas (1600m) second-up, finishing a creditable fifth with jockey Luke Currie aboard.
Mallyon reunites with Vinland in Saturday’s Spicer Thoroughbreds Handicap (1600m) while he also rides stablemate Sanctimonious, who makes his debut in a 1000m Plate for two-year-olds.
“I was really impressed with Vinland at Bendigo,” Mallyon said.
“He was first-up at 1400 metres that day and he took that run into his next go at Sandown and, in good company, I thought he ran really well.
“He’s going back to a restricted race on Saturday and he’s drawn well so I’d expect him to go very well again.”
Mallyon was taken with Sanctimonious in an 800m barrier trial at Cranbourne on Monday, which the colt won by 2-1/4 lengths.
Sanctimonious, along with fellow Cranbourne trial winner Logan River, is one of two McEvoy-trained juveniles in Saturday’s race.
“I thought Sanctimonious trialled really well and the addition of the blinkers seemed to switch him right on,” Mallyon said.
“I think whatever he does on Saturday he’ll improve on again.
“He’s a big, raw type of horse with a good motor. The penny hasn’t dropped but I think he’s one to watch for the future.”
Mallyon will also be trying to make it back-to-back wins on Sword Of Justice in the Schweppes Handicap after partnering the gelding to victory at Bendigo last start.
Sword Of Justice is trained by Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra who Mallyon has had a long association.
Mallyon said Sword Of Justice was a quirky horse who had the ability to make an impact if he was in the right frame of mind on the day.
