MCEVOYS MAKE A FLYING START TO NEW YEAR

AFTER a memorable spring carnival for Tony and Calvin McEvoy, capturing the historic Caulfield and Melbourne Cup double with Half Yours, they have bounded into 2026 with a flurry of winners.

They ended 2025 in style, capturing the last race at Flemington with Rue De Royale and in the New Year, they have already won four races.

Their two-year-old filly, Moana Spirit, secured a start in the 2026 Blue Diamond Stakes with an impressive win at Geelong on Saturday.

The stable was also successful at Gawler on Saturday and had a winning double at Stawell on Sunday.

Moana Spirit showed a good turn of foot, producing the seventh fastest last 400m for the meeting of 22.66 seconds when she dashed away from the well-backed Ciaron Maher debutante Ghana’s Akan.

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The win gained Moana Spirit an automatic start in the Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield on February 21.

As a result, she will have the opportunity to emulate the feats of her sire, Tagaloa, who won the race at his fourth start for Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young.

“Everything about her tells us that she’s going to be better at three, but she’s two from two, she’s won her way in today, and we might keep her a fresh head towards a Preview maybe and then hopefully she’s there for the Blue Diamond,” McEvoy said.

Moana Spirit impressed her jockey, Luke Currie, who also suggested she would be better as a three-year-old.

Currie, who has ridden brilliant two-year-olds in his career, said it was a bit early to compare her to the likes of Sunlight, Lyre and Artorius.

“She can’t do any more than win. I think she feels to me like she’s going to be better when she furnishes in time, but she’s got a great attitude and she’s doing everything right, so that’ll take her a long way,” Currie said.

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