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Carrying the colours of his breeder, Sheikh Mohammad Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, Run Naan was run off his feet early, but when Andrew Mallyon asked for the supreme effort he picked off runner after runner until he had Godolphin's royally bred Encryption (Lonhro x Guelph) in his sights.
Run Naan pounced in the final 100 metres, running out a neck winner over Encryption with the winner's stablemate Belzella (Bel Esprit) one and a half-length back in third. (photos grant Courtney).
A first-up winner at Bendigo when making his career debut on October 21, Run Naan moves his earnings to $103,600.
It was the second consecutive Maribyrnong Plate for McEvoy after Aspect (Pluck) 12 months ago.
"I have a lot of time for him – we took him to Bendigo to get experience for this race," McEvoy said.
We gave him a little trial here at Flemington and Andrew Mallyon rode him in the trial and at Bendigo. He said that he had definitely improved.
"I was so pleased to leave Andrew on, he is riding a bit of work for me and I had enough faith to put him on on the big stage here and he rode the colt beautifully.
"We've got this in the locker now, we can back off him and we are qualified for whatever we want to run him in.
"I think you will see him in the autumn, he's a nice colt."
A son of Dubawi's English 20000 Guineas winner Makfi (GB), Run Naan is out of the Perfectly Ready mare Raneen a half-sister to Sheikh Khalifa's Group 1 Cape Fillies Guineas winner Rumya and Group II VRC Edward Manifold Stakes and Group II Kewney Stakes winner Badawiya.
Raneen has a yearling filly by Zoffany (IRE) and was covered by Pride Of Dubai last season.
Run Naan becomes the 20th stakes winner for Makfi (GB) who shuttled to Westbury Stud for six seasons but did not return this year.
