Trainer Tony McEvoy had to leave the course due to illness but received a tonic when Bring Me Roses stormed home to win Saturday's Group II Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m) at Flemington.
Held up behind runners by Luke Currie rounding the home turn, Bring Me Roses ($12 - $17) came with a big finish once brought out into the clear in the home straight and ran home strongly to defeat Hiyaam ($21) going away by 2 1/4-lengths with Leather 'N' Lace ($2.70 fav) a half neck away in third.
Bring Me Roses was winning for the first time however, McEvoy's Melbourne foreman Michael Shepherdson said the daughter of High Chaparral had shown good form in her three previous starts.
"She's always shown us a bit and even though she was a maiden she'd been stakes placed twice," Shepherson said.
"Tony was excited to get her here on the big track at Flemington and see what she could do.
"Luke gave her a lovely ride, switched her off and then let her go through the gears in the straight."
Shepherdson said the VRC Oaks is the spring aim for Bring Me Roses.
"Tony has always had the Oaks in mind for her and that's where she's headed," Shepherdson said.
"She'll step up to the Wakeful Stakes next and then into the Oaks.
"She was very strong late in this and the run today will bring her on again - she's always looked like making into a nice staying filly."
What a big WIN! 🌹 Bring Me Roses brings her A-game in the Edward Manifold stakes. pic.twitter.com/I3JceXqhIp
— Racing.com (@Racing) October 7, 2017
