After having to settle for second in both the Caulfield and Australian Guineas’ this season, star colt Veight has broken through for a valuable Group One win in the George Ryder Stakes at Rosehill.
Co-trainers Tony and Calvin McEvoy opted to send Veight to Saturday’s George Ryder (1500m) after his last-start second in the Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington, and the colt did not let his connections down as he became the first three-year-old since Pierro in 2013 to win the weight-for-age race.
Jockey Damian Lane pressed forward on Veight ($7) to sit just behind the lead before the colt took sprinted past The Everest winner Think About It at the 200m mark.
Last start Group One Canterbury Stakes winner Lady Laguna ($8.50) emerged as a late challenger to Veight but the colt held on to beat that mare by a short head with another length back to Militarize ($5) in third.
Think About It finished fifth.
“He gets his Group One,” a thrilled Tony McEvoy said.
“It’s a brilliant Group One for him. He had been running so well at this level and the mile has just been seeing him out.
“The 1500-metres today was perfect and Damian was superb on him. We didn’t need it to be 1501 metres, but I’m so proud of the horse and so pleased for the horse.
“I think he had a profile before today that he was an elite level horse and now he’s got one on his resume.”
McEvoy said Veight’s racing style is one of his best assets and the co-trainer praised the ride of Lane.
“Damian has got so much confidence in him,” McEvoy said.
“He put him into the race and then he comes back and relaxes. He counted to 10, and it was so deserved.”
With a Group One win secured, and the $10 million Golden Eagle over the same course and distance one of the spring options on the radar, McEvoy suggested Veight could now be given a well-earned spell.
“I think it’s probably enough now but we’ll enjoy the moment and make those decisions tomorrow,” he said.
Lane said the race panned out perfectly, especially when Think About It pressed forward from his wide draw and Veight was able to track him into the race.
“When I turned for home and I felt I had him (Think About It) covered I thought, ‘I’m going to go very close to winning here’,” Lane said.
Trainer Joe Pride intends to press on to the Doncaster Mile with Think About It.
“He did a lot of work but I think that run will top him off for the Doncaster and we’ll find out if he can run a strong mile then,” Pride said.
