Promising stayer Tommy (NZ) (Telperion) ended a lengthy campaign on the best-possible note by winning the 2100-metre Benchmark 70 on Wednesday afternoon at Sandown Lakeside.
After a disappointing effort at Flemington when up in grade during Cup Week, co-trainer Calvin McEvoy said it was pleasing to see the five-year-old tough it out after being challenged by a brave Speranzoso (Siyouni).
“I didn’t like watching it,” admitted McEvoy, who trains in partnership with his father Tony.
“Very tactically ran race as we’d expect … leading to the turn I thought he had the race then Clayton’s (Douglas) horse really rallied and it was a bit of a ding-dong duel down the straight.”
The win was Tommy’s fourth from just 10 starts and McEvoy said he hopes the MyRacehorse-owned galloper will be capable of contesting some nice staying races next year.
“I think our horse is still working it out, I think there’s a lot more there,” he said.
“I think he’s done a great job this prep, (he’s) been in quite a long time so we’ll just sit down and maybe back off him now and come back next time but he’s a nice bright stayer for the future.”
