Alectrona makes it a double

Quality three-year-old filly Alectrona provided a winning double for trainers Tony & Calvin McEvoy, and jockey Blake Shinn, when she scored comfortably on the Pakenham Synthetic on Monday, July 29.

The trainers and jockey had combined to win with Carnival Row in the preceding event.

Alectrona ($2.35 fav) was given a good run by Shinn just off the pace in the Sportsbet Photo Finish Refund Benchmark 70 Handicap (1400m) before responding in the home straight to win well.

The three-year-old filly won by 1-1/4 lengths from Flying Ace ($17) with Apache Star ($5), three-quarters of a length away third.

Trainer Tony McEvoy holds Alectrona in high regard.

“She is a really nice filly with a very good profile,” McEvoy said.

“We were quite bullish about her chances at Caulfield last start, but she just couldn’t lengthen that beautiful big stride of hers in the soft ground.

“She was off the bit at the half mile (800m) but still ran fourth.

“She showed she was not a duffer in it but not but couldn’t be effective.

“Alectrona is a really nice filly going forward.

“She drew low, had a beautiful tip but Blake is so balanced, and he just took his time, and she got there in the end.

“The weather gods will play a part in her program going forward.”

Blake Shinn said he had expected Alectrona to prove hard to beat.

“She was well placed today by the guys, Tony and Calvin” Shinn said.

“Back a little bit from Saturday grade, it panned out nice and she proved too good.

“We had to adapt as the race unfolded, it was quite a high-pressure race.

“That is what I like about this filly, she absorbed the pressure, came off the bridle a bit before the turn.

“When I asked her for a bit of encouragement, she knuckled down well and showed good grit towards the line.

“I think Alectrona will get better with age, she has got quite a big frame and hasn’t filled out into it yet.

“I think she will keep developing as she gets older.”