Trainer Tony MvEvoy’s stable foreman Barry Wintle praised replacement jockey Danny Beasley for getting a “positive” result on well bred mare Raffinato at Wyong on Tuesday.
Beasley gained the mount in the Benchmark 65 Handicap (1600m) when an off-colour Tommy Berry pulled the pin after riding in the second race.
“It was a positive ride from Danny, and the mare was positive, too,” Wintle said. “But I’m not sure whether that will save her from going to the breeding barn in the new season.”
Beasley didn’t wait and hope for luck. He got Raffinato going early to sit in second place, then sooled her to the front approaching the home turn.She gained a break and didn’t surrender, holding out Heshima (James McDonald) and Percules (Josh Parr).
McDonald’s day went from bad to worse as he was later suspended for weighing in overweight on Heshima. He will sit out a week from August 2 until August 9 after stewards took into account it was his first such breach and that the winning margin was three-quarters of a length.Wintle said trainer McEvoy’s Hawkesbury base was going well with two recent city victories by smart sprinter Shiraz at Rosehill although he does not have a big team in work at present.
Raffinato, who will turn five years of age on Saturday, has raced in both NSW and also McEvoy’s main home base of South Australia.Her two previous wins were both at Morphettville last year.
Beasley rode the mare when she resumed and finished sixth over 1350m at Wyong on June 25.“I mentioned to both Tony and Barry then that she would be better placed over a bit more ground than the 1350m that day,” Beasley said.
“It’s bad luck for Tommy, but I was pleased to get another opportunity on her.”There was an interesting sequel to the race when leading jockey James McDonald weighed in afterwards in excess of 0.5kg over on runner-up Heshima.
Stewards took into account this was his first such breach and that the winning margin was three-quarters of a length.McDonald was suspended from Sunday and he can resume riding the following Sunday.
