Cup Dream alive for So Unusual

[Wandering Eyes]

Tony and Calvin McEvoy have a promising stayer on their hands in the form of Kiwi import So Unusual (NZ) (Unusual Suspect) who proved too strong in the Premier Signs Handicap (2400m) at Sandown on Saturday.

The son of Unusual Suspect was a winner at Woodville for Fraser Auret in April last year and has made a good impression from his five starts from his new quarters, winning his past three for the McEvoy team.

Sent out the $3.60 favourite, So Unusual got back worse than midfield in a solidly run race, with the tempo set by Extra Elusive (Mastercraftsman).

The four-year-old gelding comfortably reeled in the leaders and went on to score by half a length from Highland Jakk (NZ) (Jakkalberry) much to the delight of a vocal group of owners, with jockey Dean Holland sporting the silks of My Racehorse, a micro-share syndicator.

“It’s fantastic what they do My Racehorse – last week with Glory Daze and this week with So Unusual, they’re doing a bloody good job and they are giving an opportunity to a lot of people to get involved in our great sport,” Racing Manager Rayan Moore said.

“We just don’t know what the ceiling is with this horse. What he has done in a short space of time is extraordinary and he’ll head off to the Roy Higgins Quality (Listed, 2800m) now and hopefully we can book a spot in the first Tuesday in November,” Moore said, referring to the ballot exempt race for the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m).

“If we can sneak into a Melbourne Cup with 50-kilos, we’ve got the right jockey in Dean Holland – it ticks a few boxes.

“It is a bit of time between runs but we know we can do that. We’ve done that today and it’ll be six weeks until the Roy Higgins and we’ll find a trial in between and we’ll rinse and repeat.”

Winning jockey Dean Holland said the manner in which So Unusual won was vastly different on Saturday as opposed to his on-pace victory at Sandown last month.

“The other day we drew a great gate and we had all the favours and we hit the front a long way out and kept fighting when they got to me but today he switched off like a proper staying horse and I was never in doubt,” Holland said.

“He gives you so much confidence throughout the run and when I had Highland Jakk to tow me into the straight, it just worked out perfect and I hit the front at the 200m and he still had a bit of a look around for the last 150m.

“He’s got ‘proper staying horse’ written all over him and I just like his temperament. He’s got a lot going for him.”

Bred by Nigel and Adaire Auret, So Unusual was identified by Bloodstock Agent Phill Cataldo.

The progressive stayer is a good advertisement for his Letham Stud-based sire Unusual Suspect, who was the winner of the Gr.1 Hollywood Turf Cup (2400m).

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