Run Naan takes out G3 Maribyrnong Plate
A strong finish from Run Naan has given trainer Tony McEvoy a second-straight win in the Group Three Maribyrnong Plate for two-year-olds at Flemington.
Run Naan overhauled Godolphin colt Encryption in Saturday’s 1000m straight race to also give his jockey Andrew Mallyon a second Maribyrnong Plate, only his victories have come eight years apart.
“I’ve only ridden in this race twice, so I’m two for two,” Mallyon said.
“It’s just been a little while in between.”
Mallyon won on General Truce in 2009 and was having his only ride of this year’s Flemington Melbourne Cup carnival on Saturday.
He believes Run Naan has a bright future, having also won on the colt on debut at Bendigo at his only other start.
“He just gave me all the early signs that he was a nice two-year-old,” Mallyon said.
McEvoy won last year’s Maribyrnong Plate with Aspect and is keen to now target the Blue Diamond Stakes with Run Naan in the new year having earned prize money to qualify him.
The colt was excitable in the parade yard and was taken out onto the track earlier than his rivals.
Run Naan ($13) came with a strong finish to defeat Encryption ($5.50) by a neck with 1-1/2 lengths to Belzella ($9.50), who is also trained by McEvoy.
“He’s a really good colt and I couldn’t have been more impressed with him today,” McEvoy said.
“I’ll take him home now and sweeten him up and see what he can do in the autumn.
“It comes up pretty quickly but the beautiful thing now is I don’t have to qualify him so I don’t have to run him too early.”