Kerrin McEvoy again shows his prowess on stayers with a peach ride on Casual Connection at Rosehill

John Sargent was concerned early but a perfect ride from Kerrin McEvoy lands Casual Connection back to the winners circle in the Midway Rosehill.

Kerrin McEvoy returns Casual Connection to winning form at Rosehill. Picture: Bradley Photos

Trainer John Sargent conceded he had some “choice words” for jockey Kerrin McEvoy when trapped three-wide early on his stayer Casual Connection at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

“But then I noted that Kerrin had the horse balanced in a nice rhythm and then finally got in with cover,” Sargent said. “There is no better rider of stayers than Kerrin.”

McEvoy, the champion jockey who has ridden three Melbourne Cup winners, knew what he was doing as Casual Connection scored a tough, grinding win in the Midway Handicap (2000m).

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Casual Connection ($18) held off the late surge of So Sleek ($12) to win by a long head with Humanity ($6.50) more than two lengths away in third place.

Piraeus ($2.80 favourite), shouldering 60kg, looked likely to make a challenge about 250m out but was soon struggling in the soft track conditions and ran only seventh.

McEvoy said he endeavoured to try and manoeuvre Casual Connection closer to the inside rail early in the race but his rival riders had other ideas and kept the eventual winner posted three-deep.

“Full credit to Casual Connection, he’s a lovely horse to ride,” McEvoy said.

A tough win to Casual Connection at Rosehill!@KPMcEvoy | @jsargentracing | @aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/58a6pGZRrs

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 30, 2024

• The Playwright’s win ends tough week for Tulloch Lodge

“When you are racing wide, you have to conserve energy and that is what he was doing which helped us at the business end of the race.

“Typical of ‘Sarge’s’ horses, they don’t mind going a trip and enjoy the cut in the ground.”

Sargent said he will give Casual Connection his chance in some of the feature staying races in coming weeks, most notably the Summer Cup at Royal Randwick on Boxing Day.

“He likes the cut in the ground and this is his type of track today,” Sargent said.

“I’d like to think he might be a Summer Cup-type of horse, particularly if we can get some rain on the day.”

TULLOCH LODGE’S ‘BONE AND MUSCLES” GETS REDBREAT HOME

Redbreast picked herself off the canvas to score the most unlikely of first-up victories at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained mare led the field up but looked long odds of holding on when Godolphin’s Drift Net coasted straight past the frontrunner inside the final 250m.

That was until the famed ‘bone and muscle’ Tulloch Lodge is renown for kicked in.

Redbreast ($3.10 favourite) kicked back to peg back the advantage before edging out the Michael, John and Wayne Hawkes-trained Terrestar ($13) by a long neck with Drift Net ($3.80) a half neck away in third.

“When Tommy went straight past me I wasn’t (confident) but then she was slowly chipping back into the margin,” jockey Tim Clark said.

“Inside the 100m I was very confident she was able to come back and win.”

How did she win that?!

Redbreast fights back for an amazing win with @clarkyhk on board for @GaiWaterhouse1 - Bott!@aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/AgvpicYOrm

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 30, 2024

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Bott conceded Redbreast looked a bit one paced at the top of the straight but knew the daughter of American Pharoah would have plenty in the tank.

“I knew she would be strong and stick on well,” he said.

“I was thinking her next couple of runs she would be better when we could get her out in trip but I was really encouraged to pick herself up and fight as well as she did there.”

Some questioned how well Redbreast had been going heading into this preparation as the four-year-old hadn’t trialled as eye-catching at she had been in previous preparations.

Waterhouse and Bott gave the mare three public hit outs in the lead up to her return and it paid significant dividends.

“Her trials haven’t looked as good this prep but she is so much more relaxed this time,” Clark said.

“I have probably haven’t wanted to start her up and get her back to her old habits.

“They have put so much work in getting her to settle and I’ve just been leaving her alone.

“She has come back great and was fantastic.”

The win brought up an early double for Clark, who had also captured the TAB Highway Handicap on Gary Colvin’s Cambar.

- Mitch Cohen

LLOYD SALUTES AT FIRST RIDE AS A SENIOR JOCKEY

Hall of Fame trainer Chris Waller gave Sydney’s newest senior rider Zac Lloyd a glowing appraisal after his win on Ring Me Up at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

Lloyd, the two-time reigning apprentice premiership winner, was making his debut as a fully-fledged jockey and got off to a winning start on Ring Me Up in the Chandon Garden Spritz Handicap (1800m).

“Zac is a shining star and he’s is in the right city to learn off the James’, the Nashs the Kerrins,” Waller said.

“It’s important we’ve got this younger generation coming through, when James (McDonald) ducks off to Hong Kong someone is there ready to fill the void. I really like him.”

Lloyd saved ground on the home turn by angling for an inside run on Ring Me Up ($13) and it proved a decisive and ultimately successful move, scoring by a half-length from Zaphod ($12) with Haaracaine ($14) close up in third place.

📞 Ring Me Up calls for three wins in a row and wins at Rosehill for @ZacLloydx who returns as a senior jockey!@cwallerracing | @aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/VbbRZnMWAf

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 30, 2024

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There was less than a length separating the top five finishers with favourite Bullets High ($3.30) close up in fifth placing.

Lloyd, 21, had a delayed start to his senior riding career as he served out a careless riding suspension.

“I came out of my time on November 27 but I was suspended so today is my first day back,” Lloyd said.

“To do it in these colours and for Mr Waller is very pleasing. It was good to get a winner for Chris and the Inghams for my first win as a senior and hopefully there are many more to come.

“It was a lovely win by the filly today and good training effort, too, getting her to win first-up then keep its form going second-up, it’s full credit to the team.”

Lloyd said he hasn’t set himself any specific goals for the remainder of the 2024-25 season now he has joined Sydney’s senior riding ranks.

Get the post-race wrap on Ring Me Up from @cwallerracing and @ZacLloydx 👇

@aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/oKILQB53JR

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 30, 2024

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“I guess to try and ride as many winners as possible,” Lloyd said. “Also, I’ve been trying for a while to stay out of the stewards room and keep riding.

“As a senior jockey now, the riding part I don’t think is any different - I’ve been riding horses around in a circle with no claim for a while now.

“But I will try to spread myself around a bit now I will go and ride work at Rosehill one morning a week, Randwick one morning a week and twice a week at Warwick Farm.

Waller said the stable has always had a good opinion of Ring Me Up and flirted with the idea of running her in the Queensland Oaks earlier this year.

“She didn’t end up getting there, but she is a promising horse who will improve with time,” Waller said.

“I think she will get to 2000m no problem and it’s the right time of the year for horses like this to win some good prizemoney.”

- Ray Thomas

Originally published as Kerrin McEvoy again shows his prowess on stayers with a peach ride on Casual Connection at Rosehill