The Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained Moana Spirit (Tagaloa) kept her unbeaten record intact at her second start in the $150,000 Geelong Diamond on Saturday when roaring from near last to win the 1100-metre sprint.
The green and white silks of Yulong were sixth in a field of eight with less than 400 metres left to travel, but Luke Currie knew what he had beneath him and launched the filly into the final furlong.
Once she passed the majority of the field, Moana Spirit needed no further telling to blitz home to a clear two length victory over Ghana’s Akan (Street Boss {USA}), with a further length back to Fine Sierra (Pinatubo {IRE}) in third.
“She’s a beautiful, laid-back filly and very unassuming,” Calvin McEvoy said post-race. “She was quite raw in her work going towards (her debut in) Adelaide and we weren’t expecting a huge amount. She went over there and she won, but since she returned to Flemington, she’s been really switched on.”
The victory has the McEvoys dreaming of a path to the Gr.1 Blue Diamond Stakes, a race won by the filly’s sire Tagaloa in 2020 – particularly as the Geelong Diamond carries a ballot exempt place in the grand final for the winner.
“Everything about her tells us she’s going to be better at three, but she’s two from two,” McEvoy said. “We might keep her fresh, head to a Preview maybe, and hopefully she’s fresh for the Blue Diamond.”
Moana Spirit was bred and retained to race by Yulong. She is the third winner from three to race out of Chaminade (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}), a winning granddaughter of Gr.1 Haydock Sprint Cup winner Pipalong (IRE) (Pips Bride {GB}).
An Alabama Express-sired half-sister to Moana Spirit will be offered by Yulong at the Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale this year as Lot 550.
Written for TTRAusNZ
