MV On Track 2018

ON TRACK MAGAZINE 17 Back then McEvoy was filling in for the Hayes family in the top job following the tragic death in a helicopter crash of Peter Hayes, son of Colin (CS) Hayes. Current top trainer David Hayes had initially succeeded his father at Lindsay Park and had in fact sent out Better Loosen Up to win the W.S. Cox Plate in 1990. But when the youngest of the Hayes training brothers had chosen to move to Hong Kong, his elder sibling Peter succeeded him - with the ever-loyal McEvoy as his assistant. When Peter Hayes died, McEvoy took the reins at Lindsay Park in his own right and it was in that capacity that he trained Fields of Omagh (nicknamed FOO) to his win in 2003. Three years later, when the then nine-year-old stunned the racing world by winning a second Cox Plate at the juicy odds of 18-1, McEvoy was still involved with the gelding, this time as an assistant to David Hayes, who by now had returned from Hong Kong. It’s a record that few could match, and, not surprisingly, the Cox Plate is one of McEvoy’s favourite races. He believes that the composition of the track, the big race sense of occasion and the pressure that horses and jockeys find themselves under when contesting The Valley classic makes the Cox Plate a test like no other. Horses need speed, adaptability, stamina to stay a truly run (usually at breakneck pace) 2040 metres and the power, energy and determination to be able to sprint near the end of a gut busting race, one in which the pressure goes on barely 800 metres after the start. “I have been lucky enough to be involved in many horses that have won the race and run really well in it,” says McEvoy. “I never rode in a Cox Plate, but I rode plenty at The Valley,” McEvoy recalls. Although he partnered more than 100 winners, his career in the saddle was short lived as increasing weight forced him to quit and join the training ranks. But there is one horse that stands out forever in his memory. “I can’t ever forget Fields of Omagh. I trained him for one Cox Plate win and was there with Haysey when he trained him after returning from Hong Kong,” says McEvoy. “I had a lot to do with him. He ran second, third and fifth for me in the Cox Plate when I trained him. He was incredible at The Valley in October that horse, he was just very special at the course and at that time of year and in that race.”