McEvoy warms to Long John
South Australian jockey Kerrin McEvoy loves a big stage and Saturday’s $3 million Cox Plate could deliver joy for his followers.
The three-year-old’s task of taking on the older stars in the Plate was made easier when hot favourite Atlantic Jewel withdrew with a tendon injury.
Long John’s trainer says that while its hard for three-year-olds in such a classic race, the colt is in top order.
The only three-year-olds to win the race in the last 37 years have been Surround (1976) Red Anchor (1984), Octagonal (1995), Savabeel (2004) and So You Think (2009).
“It is a very hard race for three-year-olds to win,” Snowden told reporters yesterday.
“With Atlantic Jewel out, it does open the race up but every horse in the field deserves to be there and I feel my horse deserves to be there, too.”
Kerrin McEvoy said that while he will have to work hard to make the light weight of 49.5kg, he’ll be ready for more glory on the colt.
McEvoy cruised to victory aboard Long John in the Caulfield Guineas and the light weight suggests the three year old will be ridden on the speed on Saturday.
SA horse Happy Trails is another major contender in the Plate and earlier in the day local interest will focus on the Leon Macdonald/Andrew Gluyas trained, Nearest To Pin, which gets his chance in Moonee Valley Race 3, after a preparation which has seen him win four races at Morphettville.
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Richard Jolly will feature in Race 4, and he will be hoping a step up to 2040 metres will see South Australian Derby runner-up, Hioctdane, back in the money.
Punters back at Morphettville are in for a good (and long) day with the Plate run at 5.10pm SA time.
The One Toyota Cox Plate Day at Morphettville includes the Pink Ribbon for Breast Cancer Research luncheon, with all proceeds from ticket sales to be donated to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.
The eight race program at Morphettville commences with Race 1 at 12.58pm
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