Tony and Calvin McEvoy are interstate preparing for the latter’s wedding, but it did not stop them signing off from a watershed spring with another feature success at Caulfield on Saturday.
The father/son training team won the $250,000 Group 3 Blue Sapphire Stakes (1200m) with Motorsports.
The McEvoys watched the 1200-metre event from a hotel in South Australia with family and friends, getting a headstart on celebrations for Calvin’s marriage to fiancé Demi on Sunday.
Harry Coffey, a regular rider for the stable and wedding invitee, partnered the daughter of Street Boss to victory and was pleased to play his part in what he knew would be a special win.
“We’ve got a big day tomorrow with the McEvoy clan and I’m happy to be still invited to the wedding after that,” Coffey said with a laugh.
“I’d be saying there’d be a pretty rowdy pub in Adelaide somewhere right now.”
Motorsports, the $4 favourite, scored a soft three-quarters-of-a-length win over $17 outsider Recuperato, who finished a length clear of Regeneration ($6.50).
The victory capped an unforgettable spring for the McEvoys, who prepared Half Yours to complete the Caulfield-Melbourne Cup double with Jamie Kah in the saddle.
Coffey was thrilled to get his opportunity on raceday aboard the Godolphin-raced Motorsports, who he trialled before her debut but surrendered the seat to Luke Currie for her first two starts, which generated a Ballarat second placing and Pakenham win in maiden grade.
“I was lucky enough and fortunate enough to find her when she swapped from James Cummings to the McEvoy team, but unfortunately I couldn’t ride her at her first start because my baby was due the day she ran at Ballarat,” Coffey said.
“I put that aside and, luckily enough for me, Luke was suspended and I was able to rejoin and get back on her back.
“It’s good of Godolphin and the McEvoys to allow me to do that as she’s a ripping filly.
“She’s a pleasure to ride, she does things right and she has a turn of foot. That’s everything you want from a horse.”
