After displaying her potential without a Stakes victory to show for it, English Riviera is now a deserved winner at this level.
She did it in thrilling fashion, edging out Mumbai Jewel with a bob of her head on the line in the Thoroughbred Club Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.
Tony and Calvin McEvoy’s three-year-old was ridden beautifully by star in-form jockey Blake Shinn to salute on the outside after she was fourth with 350m to go.
2022 Thoroughbred Club Stakes Replay
The filly showed plenty of promise last month, finishing a respective fourth and third in the Cap D’Antibes and Scarborough Stakes.
After those performances, Tony McEvoy knew a Stakes win was not far away.
“She’s a really good quality filly and not much has gone right for her,” he told Channel 7.
“I was surprised she was beaten for speed (early), to be honest.
“I thought she might control. But Blake’s got beautiful hands and she had a beautiful run, and she presented and just had to hold on.
“God bless her, she did.”
McEvoy said he had the Crockett Stakes at The Valley on October 22 or the Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington a week later next in mind for his developing filly.
Shinn was impressed at the way English Riviera finished strongly.
“They (McEvoy stable staff) indicated to me that she’s a really high-speed filly,” he said.
“But from the get-go all she wanted to do was put her head on her chest.
“I allowed the other horses to go and just rode her as I felt. Even though I was wide, she got into a nice rhythm.
“She built into the turn and when the second horse challenged she responded. It was a courageous effort.
“I was confident I got the bob.”
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