A potential entry into the South Australian Derby looms for Silvasista following her dominant performance in the Listed VRC St Leger held at Flemington.
The Group 1 South Australian Derby (2500m) is scheduled for Morphettville next Saturday, with the alternative of the Group 3 SA Fillies Classic (2500m) on the same venue a week later.
Thriving on the extended trip beyond her previous 2200m victory at Donald on April 14, Silvasista managed the 2800m distance on Saturday with ease.
Ridden by Luke Currie, Silvasista ($3.70) triumphed by 3-½ lengths over Finance Merchant ($16), while Chillies ($18) finished a further three-quarters-of-a-length back in third.
Silvasista’s success marked a training double for Melbourne Cup victors Tony and Calvin McEvoy, coming after Mr Blunt’s win in the WGCDR Ian Bayles DFC (1800m).
“She’s a lovely filly but we weren’t sure whether she would stay on her pedigree being by Toronado,” Calvin McEvoy said.
“She put up a great run behind Salty Pearl over a mile and then went to Adelaide and disappointed us.
“We brought her back and brought her back in class and she won over 2200 metres at Donald and sort of looked near the end of it, but we wanted to test her here over the distance with a look to the 2500-metre fillies race in a couple of weeks.
“The way she won, it was a beautiful ride from Luke, and it could not have worked out any better.
“I’m thrilled for the team at Ballarat. They’ve sent two horses to the races today and they’ve both won at Flemington.”
Prior to this, Silvasista had finished runner-up to Salty Pearl at Caulfield before faltering in a stakes event in Adelaide at the end of last month.
Increasing the distance to 2200m at Donald, the McEvoy team remained uncertain about her stamina as a true stayer.
Although victorious there, McEvoy noted that the key instruction to Currie was to ensure Silvasista relaxed in the initial stages.
“The only thing we said to Luke was she was on trial at the distance, so get her to switch off as good as you can and be the last to challenge,” McEvoy said.
“He wasn’t the last to challenge as she was travelling so well and he couldn’t have executed it any better.
“She’s really continued to go through the grades and today was a big test.
“It’s a big race to win at Flemington and we’re very proud to win it.”
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