Vixenette’s powerful finish

Vixenette indicated she was another talented middle-distance galloper for trainers Tony & Calvin McEvoy with an excellent win on the Ballarat Synthetic on Tuesday, August 20.

Easing from $1.70 to start $2.60 favourite, Vixenette, ridden by Harry Coffey, defied the betting drift to run home strongly and win the Porter Plant Maiden (1400m).

The daughter of Trapeze Artist ran powerfully through the line to win by a half-length from Whiskey Creed ($5.50) with King Waldo ($3.70), 1-1/4 lengths away third.

Coffey allowed the three-year-old filly to settle midfield, one wide, in the early stages before getting her to improve to third turning for home.

Vixenette was chasing the runaway leader King Waldo, but he started to stop, and the filly lengthened quickly charging to the front and winning well.

Trainer Calvin McEvoy said the stable had a good opinion of Vixenette from day one.

“She is a nice filly,” McEvoy said.

“We have always thought a fair bit of her.

“We took her to the races twice, and liked her twice, but she got it a bit wrong.

“I thought it was a really good performance today, first up.

“Credit to Rayan Moore (McEvoy Racing Manager) – we were tossing up between the 1200 and the 1400 metre races, our leaning was that the fitness was more the 1200, but Rayan was really confident this was a more winnable race.

“I’m glad we listened to him.

“At her home she was working well but let us down at her first two starts.

“We have to thank Nick Tsaltis, TFI, Bob Cruise and his partners for being patient so hopefully this is the first step in the right direction.

“Vixenette had been prepped up nice, her coat is still coming a little bit, walking around in the yard I thought she would really improve out of this run.

“She relished the 1400 and will love the mile (1600m) and a bit further.”

McEvoy said he thought Vixenette was going to run a nice second or even third early in the home straight.

“However, she really let rip over the final stages.”

Winning jockey Harry Coffey paid tribute to trainers Tony & Calvin McEvoy for the win by Vixenette.

“Calvin will love this,” Coffey said, “it probably was not a bad little training effort.

“Her first start she showed speed and wanted to run and get on with it.

“They reset and started again, she’s come back and jumped out nicely.

“Just kicked her off at 1400 for her first start this prep and worried she might be a bit vulnerable late but to Tony & Calvin’s credit, she was strong late.

“She may not have beaten much, but they still have to do it.

“The way she ran down the thing out in front, at some stages I did get a bit nervous, but I thought her last two sectionals were strong – I felt like we made ground really quickly.

“Calvin and Tony didn’t want me to panic early so she would run the 1400 metres out strongly.

“Even though she was expected to win, and probably better than them, first up we had the plan you cannot use too much early, doing the right thing by the horse.

“She was in a nice rhythm and relaxing and her ability took care of the rest.”