Glorious Sunset

Ultra-consistent Sunset Dreaming broke through for a deserved win this preparation at Sandown Hillside on Wednesday, September 18.

The Tony & Calvin McEvoy-trained mare had to “get off the canvas” to grab victory in the Stow Storage Solutions Handicap (1400m).

Ridden by Damien Lane, Sunset Dreaming ($2.50 fav), looked beaten several times in the home straight but found an effort in the closing stages to score by as neck from Valois ($10) with Prowling ($12) a head away third.

With two seconds and a third from her three runs this preparation, the four-year-old mare was bursting to win and achieved it today.

Sunset Dreaming began well and went forward and with the tempo of the race found herself second on settling down.

Lane had the mare in a striking position on straightening, but the leaders were swamped with 300 metres to travel.

The mare looked to be in trouble but kept battling on, then over the last 50 metres, Lane lifted her to a well-deserved victory.

Trainer Tony McEvoy said he was surprised Sunset Dreaming had settled second in the run.

“I think Damien thought he might be one-one, that is the spot he was looking for, but it didn’t eventuate,” McEvoy said.

“He just went on and he showed why he is a star jockey.

“He kept something in the locker, he looked beaten several times to us, but he kept enough there for the finish, and she was very strong late.

“Sunset Dreaming is very fit, very honest and I’ve always thought she would run a mile (1600m).

“I thought today at the 1400 metres she would be very strong.

“She really deserved the win and a big thank you to all the team at home, they’ve done a great job keeping her at this level of form.”

McEvoy said he would like to give Sunset Dreaming a chance in a black type race.

Winning jockey Damien Lane said it had been a funny sort of run for Sunset Dreaming.

“We wanted to be a little most positive last time, but she faltered just after the start and she lost a bit of momentum,” Lane said.

“She still ran great but today jumped better and put herself in the race.

“I thought I was beaten at the 300 (metre mark) but her to her credit she dug deep and lifted when it counted.

“Sunset Dreaming is a tough girl, she has been unlucky not to have won one yet this preparation – for two or three runs she has been a victim of circumstances.

“Today we took luck out of the equation, and she was too good.”