GRAHAM FISCHER
ANGASTON trainer Tony McEvoy
landed his second win in three
years in South Australia’s famous
sprint race, the Group One Goodwood
Handicap at Morphettville
on Saturday.
McEvoy won the 1200-metre
sprint in 2019 with Despatch, before
Savatoxl – a horse sent from
Darwin to Adelaide after being
purchased for $8000 as a yearling –
gave him a second victory.
This year, McEvoy shared the
win with his son Calvin after they
formed a training partnership in
September 2019.
Savatoxl ($19) was beautifully
ridden by stable jockey Barend
Vorster, staying on the inside and
racing away to win by two lengths
from Instant Celebrity ($5.50) with
the heavily backed Gytrash ($2.70
favourite) a half-length away in
third.
Trainer Tony McEvoy said he
was ecstatic to land his first Goodwood
in partnership with Calvin.
“It’s a bit surreal,” he said.
“The ownership group had
enough faith to send him down after
winning a Guineas, then placing in
the Cup in Darwin.
“In the Balaklava Cup, he just
didn’t run the mile against this
level. I asked if we could go back
sprinting and they agreed, and he’s
a really good horse.”
McEvoy was delighted to see
jockey Barend Vorster land the
Group One.
“It makes me feel fantastic,” he
said. “Barend’s work ethic is incredible,
and the knowledge he has
brought to the stable – I’ve really
enjoyed having him.”
Calvin said he was delighted for
both the ownership group and Barend.
“Barend works bloody hard,
he’s there every morning (for) riding
work and helping the younger
staff,” he said.
McEvoy indicated Savatoxl
would now head to Brisbane for the
Group One $1.5 million Stradbroke
Handicap over 1400m to be run at
Eagle Farm on June 12.