Veteran trainer Les Bridge celebrated a late birthday present at Rosehill as Aye Aye Captain rediscovered her winning touch. Jockey Kerrin McEvoy admitted he had a result to deliver to the stable after a costly suggestion last start.
Aye Aye Captain had previously underperformed when finishing as the favourite on a heavy track, a decision influenced by McEvoy’s encouragement for her to race.
However, on firmer ground in Saturday’s Congratulations Chris Waller Handicap (1400m), the mare proved her class. Sent off at $3.30, Aye Aye Captain battled gamely to secure a narrow neck victory over Ticklebelly ($5), demonstrating the patience of her connections.
McEvoy acknowledged he had some amends to make following the mare’s prior defeat.
“I must admit, he wasn’t too happy with me the other day when I convinced him to run on the heavy track,” McEvoy said.
“I could tell when I rang him after the races he was a bit flat on me.
“Anyway, he’s waited for today, freshened her up, and her work during the week was good.
“She settled better for me today, and the better ground suited her.”
The win marked another milestone in the extensive partnership between McEvoy and Bridge, which spans nearly twenty-five years. Their initial success was aboard Miss Zoe in the 2002 Emancipation Stakes, followed by their most significant achievement when Classique Legend triumphed in The Everest in 2020.
“My first winner (for Bridge) was a good mare of his way back in the early 2000s, Miss Zoe. This was when I was just out of my apprenticeship,” McEvoy shared. “Then when I moved to Sydney, I didn’t ride a lot for Les early on. Carmel (Size) linked me up when she knew she had a smart one in Classique Legend, and I’ve been doing a bit ever since with Les.”
The well-backed favourite, Enviable ($2.50), failed to impress, trailing the field after racing closely behind the leader. Jockey James McDonald informed stewards that the mare travelled smoothly but didn’t respond when urged in the final stages. A post-race veterinary assessment was anticipated to identify any underlying issues contributing to the poor performance.
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