The Tony and Calvin McEvoy stable is considering a trip to Perth for the Summer Carnival after Winning Partner returned winning form at Moonee Valley.
Winning Partner took out the VOBIS Gold Star (1500m) on Friday night to register his first win since winning the Listed Balaklava Cup (1600m) last September.
It was a family affair with Winning Partner being ridden to victory by Kerrin Mcevoy, a nephew of Tony and cousin of Calvin.
Looping the field, Winning Partner ($11) scored by 1-¼ lengths from the $5 equal favourite Regardsmaree with fellow equal favourite Grandslam a long head away third.
Winning Partner has been nominated for the Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m) on November 19 along with the inaugural running of The Gold Rush (1400m) on December 10.
“We’ve put a nom in for Perth and the Railway. He’s just a tough old gelding that loves his training,” Calvin McEvoy said.
After a promising winter campaign that included a second at Flemington in August, Winning Partner lost form, although McEvoy said there were excuses for his latest effort at Flemington.
And McEvoy had thoughts that a similar run was on the cards on Friday night.
“We were pretty disappointed in the result after the last run. He could have easily won that had a bit more luck gone his way,” McEvoy said.
“At about the 600 (metre mark tonight) I thought it wasn’t going to go my way again.
“Kerrin, he’s a superstar jockey and when he decided to get going, he took it to his advantage and the horse was extremely strong.”
Kerrin McEvoy said Winning Partner heading to Perth could be a good option.
“I don’t know a lot about the horse, but his record reads good on top of the ground,” McEvoy said.
“He skipped over that and was enjoying it every step of the way.
“He could be a good chance to pick up some dollars over there.”
