Tony & Calvin McEvoy have kicked off their 2023 Melbourne Cup Day in the best possible fashion, taking out the Group 3 Maribyrnong Plate for the third time in seven years, as Dublin Down (+900) got the better of his less experienced stablemate Blue Stratum (+300).
The son of Exceedance had already been down the Flemington straight, when on debut in the Listed Maribyrnong Trial, and it was clear that the experience and race fitness gave him the edge on a few of his rivals, including the runner-up.
The race favourite Admitted (+190) took up the lead from the barrier and appeared to be doing it well as the field got onto the course proper, but as soon as the whips began to crack, the McEvoy gallopers took over and settled down to fight out the finish.
Outside of the top two, the Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained Odinson (+380) was a real eye-catcher running home nicely into third place, suggesting that a step up to 1100m or 1200m would be ideal next start.
2023 Maribyrnong Plate Replay – Dublin Down| T: Tony & Calvin McEvoy | J: Zac Purton
Both Calvin and Tony McEvoy were on track for the victory, but Calvin represented the stable and spoke post-race.
“It is a job to get these two-year-olds up and going and to handle it on an occasion like today, both of our colts handled it beautifully,” McEvoy said.
“We put out necks on the line (at the sales) and I think we’ve got a good system.
“These are horses that are going to get better and the winner, he’s going to be a lovely horse.
“A Guineas-style of horse next year.
“Blue Stratum was fantastic. I saw that he hit the front and experience just got him beat.
“He’s a nice horse as well. They’re different styles of horses and two we’re very happy to have in training.”
With the big booking on Absurde in the Melbourne Cup to come later in the day, Zac Purton was very happy to start his day with a winner, and he spoke post race.
“A little bit of race fitness and give in the track helped him,” Purton said.
I always like coming back to Australia and Flemington’s such a lovely track to ride on, it’s always a pleasure to be here and Tony gave me the opportunity today.
“Every time I come down he tries to throw me on something with a bit of a chance and obviously got it right today.
“I think the pace through the mid stages helped, my bloke relaxed a little bit, came into it at the right time, just got a little bit lost on his own.
“He got down and did his job again.”
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