Lucky Lucky Lucky scores overdue victory
The decision to bypass the Warrnambool Cup on unsuitable ground has been rewarded for the connections of Lucky Lucky Lucky with the stayer racing to his first win in 15 months.
Trainer Tony McEvoy had the last-start Mornington Cup placegetter entered for Thursday’s Warrnambool Cup over 2350m but scratched him because of a heavy track.
Under a confident ride by apprentice Dylan Dunn at Flemington, Lucky Lucky Lucky ($4.20) travelled in the second half of the field in the Singapore Turf Club Trophy before winning by 1-1/2 lengths.
Lightly raced Barwon and De Little Engine filled the minor placings.
Lucky Lucky Lucky had a hurdle trial at Warrnambool last month and Dunn believes that helped switch the horse on.
“I felt I probably could’ve been closer in the run if I put myself there, but I thought he would be the best horse in the race so I was happy where I was and in the end he was too good,” Dunn said.
Lucky Lucky Lucky’s win was followed up by a McEvoy stable quinella in the Chairman’s Club Handicap with the resuming Scherzoso bursting through between runners to beat Mr Backchat by a half length.
Scherzoso ($26) was ridden by apprentice Ben Allen and McEvoy’s stable representative Michael Sheperdson said the young rider’s 3kg claim came in handy.
“With 51 kilos on his back, it’s a good luxury,” Sheperdson said.
“He needed a genuinely run race to flash home, but we thought he could sprint well fresh. And he’s going to be a handy little stayer.”