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McEvoy: Interstate runners ready to fire during SA lockdown

Leading South Australian trainer Tony McEvoy said he is fully supportive of the State Government’s six-day lockdown knowing the welfare of horses across the state was addressed in the early hours of Thursday morning. 

TRSA worked long into Wednesday night to ensure horse welfare was a priority as South Australia came to standstill at midnight. 

Trainers and key staff were deemed essential workers in the primary industries sector, allowing necessary staff to attend to stables and ensure the adequate supply of food and exercise to animals. 

“They’ve taken a very hard stance, I understand what they’ve done, and we want it stopped very quickly,’’ McEvoy said on RSN radio. 

“If this six day turn around can do that, it’s the right call.  

“We’re supporters and we have to be!’’ 

McEvoy said knowing he could maintain part of his routine with his Barossa stable was reassuring. 

“The Government and (TRSA CEO) Nick (Redin) and his team acted very swiftly with the importance of the welfare of these horses, that they can still have exercise, even if it’s lighter exercise,’’ McEvoy added. 

“They can still be exercised and cared for and that’s what we’re doing. 

McEvoy lines-up Game Keeper in Saturday’s $500,000 Ballarat Cup after a luckless run at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day. 

“He was a very good run, he just couldn’t get momentum,’’ McEvoy said. 

“His last 100m was fabulous and I think stepping up to the 2000m looks ideal for him. He’s in great order, he’s going to have a couple of days down at the beach and he’ll be ready for his contest on Saturday,’’ he said. 

McEvoy said the depth of the race was evident with dual SA country cup winner Winning Partner missing a start in the feature. 

“(Winning Partner) has won the Murray Bridge Cup, the Balaklava Cup and ran a very luckless race at Flemington and got balloted out of this race, that shows the depth,’’ he said. 

McEvoy and son Calvin have a strong hand at Moonee Valley on Friday night and said Meteorite was their best chance across the weekend following an impressive gallop on Monday. 

“He wanted to break the clock again at Moonee Valley on Monday morning,’’ McEvoy said. 

“He just went there to have a little piece of work and Luke struggled to slow him down. 

“He’s been kept very fresh and on his gallop on Monday they’ll know he’s in the race,’’ he said. 

Despite the race boasting a lot of speed, McEvoy sounding an ominous warning to rivals. 

“He doesn’t have to lead, but there is not many they will go faster than him I can assure you,’’ McEvoy added. 

 

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