Tony and Calvin McEvoy eyeing slot race riches with Centennial Park

Trainers Tony and Calvin McEvoy are slot race dreaming after Centennial Park scored a determined victory at Caulfield Heath on Boxing Day.

Centennial Park wins at Caulfield on Boxing Day in a terrific three-way battle Picture: Reg Ryan

Centennial Park boosted Tony and Calvin McEvoy’s New Zealand slot race ambitions with a tenacious win at Caulfield Heath on Boxing Day.

The three-year-old son of Super Seth raced between Sigiriya Rock and Colour My World in the concluding stages and stuck on best for a gallant victory under jockey Jamie Mott.

The McEvoy stable has sights on the inaugural $3.5m The NZB Kiwi in March for the Karaka graduate, a $260,000 yearling purchase.

“He is Kiwi bred and there’s The Kiwi race in March,” McEvoy racing manager Rayan Moore said.

“If there’s any slot holders out there, the phones are ringing, get on.

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“It’s a perfect time to showcase that (NZ pedigree), he’s got the perfect platform through these summer months and 1500m is probably his prime distance at the moment.”

Centennial Park returned $2.40 with Ladbrokes but needed to dig deep to win as Sigiriya Rock and Colour My World each threatened at different stages in the straight.

“JMott at his absolute best, he lifted him,” Moore said.

“Linda’s horse (Colour My World) just laid a little bit over him at the concluding stages and it really urged him along and Jamie was very vigorous.”

Centennial Park holds them off in a grandstand finish 🙌@mcevoymitchell's 3YO gelding goes back-to-back 🔥@jamieleemottpic.twitter.com/f0bjN7aqCu

— Racing.com (@Racing) December 26, 2024

Mott endorsed the progressive gelding’s credentials.

“He’s still very young and on the way up,” Mott said.

“I love the progression he went from his maiden (debut second) to his first win and, and still again today he’s made a progression, but there’s so much more to come with him.

“He’s got a great motor on him, he’s got a lot learn… and he was really in for the fight when Linda’s horse possibly had my measure at the 250m but my horse was strongest late.

“Any further he would’ve pulled right away… once he does put it together he’s going to be a really nice horse, he’s put together a good record so far and the exciting part is he doesn’t know what he’s doing.

“I’m sure when he does figure it out he’s going to be exciting.”

Originally published as Tony and Calvin McEvoy eyeing slot race riches with Centennial Park