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McEvoy stable’s three-pronged attack on Autumn Carnival

The McEvoy stable is set to launch a three-pronged attack on the 2020 Adelaide Autumn Racing Carnival.

Headline act Sunlight will trial this week as she continues her build-up to what looms as a three-start campaign in Adelaide, while three-year-old fillies Xilong and Silent Sovereign also have major local targets in the weeks ahead.

Trainers Tony and Calvin McEvoy have high hopes for the latter, who ran a slashing first-up fourth – with a chequered path – in the Listed Laelia Stakes over 1600m at Morphettville on the weekend.

“She ran home super,” said Calvin.

“We got through to a VRC Oaks (at Flemington) in Cup Week last year and she was basically in her first racing preparation. So, she did an enormous job… but we knew she’d be much better growing up a little bit.

“She’s come through Saturday’s race really well and we were really happy with that first-up run at the mile.”

Silent Sovereign will now run in the Group 3 Schweppervescence Stakes (registered as the Auraria Stakes) on April 18 on her way to the Schweppes Oaks (registered as the Australasian Oaks) on May 2.

“She’s by Dalakhani,” Calvin said, “so she’ll obviously run the trip.”

The McEvoy stable also has big plans for Xilong, which ran an excellent third at big odds behind Probabeel and Funstar in the Group 1 Surround Stakes (1400m) in Sydney on February 29.

Xilong will also trial at this week and is likely to be seen locally in the Listed Winning Edge Redelva Stakes for 3YOs over 1100m on April 18, en route to the Group 1 TAB Classic (registered as the Robert Sangster Stakes) over 1200m on May 2.

“She’s already a stakes winner,” Calvin pointed out, “and she’s a real high-quality filly.”

If Xilong appears in the TAB Classic she will likely be pitted against high-profile stablemate Sunlight, winner of 11 of her 21 career starts and over $6.5 million in prizemoney.

Sunlight’s first local target will be the Group 3 Furphy RN Irwin Stakes over 1100m on April 18, then the Sangster a fortnight later.

Calvin said the Group 1 Furphy Goodwood over 1200m on May 1 was also on the cards.

“It’s a very, very high probability that she can do both,” he said.

“We were never going to. The plan was go to Royal Ascot, but obviously with all the restrictions in place that’s completely out the door now.

“So The Goodwood looks a pretty suitable race. She’ll be third up into that, so it works in really well.”

Calvin said having the star mare around the stables and preparing to race in her home state had given staff an extra spring in their step.

“It’s very exciting for everyone, especially the staff here at Angaston,” he said.

“All these horses do their education and early work in Angaston and in the state, and a mare like Sunlight has obviously spend most of her time away from South Australia, so it’s nice to have her around.”

Calvin said Sunlight’s little sister, Sisstar, had gone to the paddock for a spell following her unplaced run behind Equal Love at Morphettville Parks last month.

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