Back on a firm surface, the confidently supported Winning Partner came with a well-timed under Barend Vorster to give the McEvoy stable back to back winners of Wednesday’s Listed Balaklava Cup (1600m) and a third overall.
The stable had a strong hand with five runners with the best of the others being Savatoxl (Kuroshio) who clocked in third.
Vorster had Winning Partner position midfield early as Peloton and Savatoxl carved out the early running. Once he found some clear air in the straight Winning Partner motored home to defeat Analytica (Shocking) by one and a half lengths.
A 5yo son of Dawn Approach (IRE), Winning Partner had been a model of consistency before failing at his most recent start over 1600m on a heavy 10 at a storm shortened meeting at Moonee Valley.
Purchased by McEvoy Mitchell Racing Pty Ltd for $110,000 out of the Glenelg Park draft at the 2017 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale, Winning Partner advances his record to 5 wins and 6 seconds from 22 starts with earnings of $291,825.
He is the best of three winners from as many foals out the Johannesburg (USA) mar Lady Frere who won little more than a Cowra maiden in 20 starts.
A half-sister to the listed SAJC HC Nitschke Stakes and Listed Adelaide Guineas winner General Peekay (General Nediym), Lady Frere died in 2016.
Winning Partner comes out of the first of five southern hemisphere crops by Darley Stud’s 5-time Group1 winner Dawn Approach (IRE) and becomes his 12th stakes-winner worldwide.
