Arabian Summer has taken out the final event on the Caulfield program by claiming Tobeornottobe in the final strides to win the Group 3 Peter Le Grand Stakes on Saturday afternoon.
The Tony & Calvin McEvoy-trained filly claimed her first Listed race as a three-year-old, sending favourite backers home with a winner after being sent out as a +150 market elect with Picklebet.
Harry Coffey once again combined with the daughter of Too Darn Hot, who settled nicely for him behind Tobeornottobe (+600), who followed the leading duo of Drifting (+650) and Madrina (+6000).
As the field turned for home, Tobeornottobe came out underneath the eventual winner and took over at the 200m mark, but as Coffey pushed the button on Arabian Summer, she began to lengthen quickly.
Although she only grabbed the leader in the final strides, Arabian Summer knuckled down in the final 100m to win like a good filly, with Tobeornottobe having to settle for second ahead of Shadhavar (+2000).
Calvin McEvoy represented the winning stable in the post-race interview.
“She’s such a dream to train this filly,” McEvoy said.
“She’s got the best attitude and she’s learned that by travelling, she’s always been going around the place and always on her own.
“They’ve got to have that will to win, and she’s got it in her, so we love it.
“She hasn’t grown up much. Everyone’s said, ‘has she grown, has she grown?’ but I said back that she hasn’t needed to.
“She’s a smallish filly, but a beautifully filly and so well put together.
“Credit to our team, they’ve presented her here today in fantastic order and finally got that Group race (win).
“She’s a filly that can be up a long time, she handles it so easy so we’ll consider the Oakleigh Plate.
“We wanted to get the Black Type first.
“One thing about travelling around for the big-money restricted races is we’ve missed a few opportunities at the black type, but she’s got that secured now for connections.
“Whether it’s an Oakleigh Plate and maybe an Adelaide campaign, or maybe back to Queensland, I’m not sure, but she’s a great filly.”
Harry Coffey recorded his fourth victory at Caulfield, and he spoke post-race.
“To win on two horses that have been brilliant to me over the last 12 months… obviously Duke De Sessa, we won the Caulfield Cup together, but this filly’s not far behind him, she’s taken me on a great ride,” Coffey said.
“I’ve flown all around Australia riding her and was able to partner her in some nice two-year-old races, and now we’re doing that a bit older at three.
“This is what the game’s about—finding horses like her.
“She probably won’t be the best horse here on-course today, but I’ll give you one thing, she’ll try the hardest.
“She’s not big, and every time I watch a replay of myself riding her, I think, ‘gee, I wish I looked a bit more polished’, but because she’s small, her action’s a little bit funny and she’s got that small neck, she’s hard to look fully fluent on.
“But there’s not many that try harder than her, and she’s got a massive heart and is just a horse that goes to the races and tries her hardest.
“Her last 12 months she’s just been so well-placed by the team.
“It’s awesome for her to come back here after being up in the Queensland and win and remind all the locals how good she still is.”
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