A winner on debut at Deauville last year and competitive in several Group races in France, three year-old Wootton Bassett colt Evade was having his first start this year and first for new trainer Archie Watson at Epsom overnight in the Listed Surrey Stakes (7f) and scored an eye-catching win.
He and the runner-up Native American gapped their rivals and went to the line locked together some nine lengths ahead of the field with Evade getting his head down on the line for Oisin Murphy to win.
“It is an amazing training performance from Archie Watson and the same man has been riding him out since he arrived from France. I haven’t sat on him because he is quite difficult to ride at home and to get him to win first time is a great effort,” said Oisin Murphy
“It wasn’t easy in the first furlong, as he jumped slow and was a bit crowded, but to get him to race nicely and stick his neck out in the finish takes an awful lot of hard work.
“He’s a bit flighty and anything can wind him up. I rode him in France last year when he just wouldn’t relax. In his two starts afterwards, he was very keen as well, so it is great to get him back on track.”
Evade was a €300,000 purchase from Arqana Deauville Yearling Sale for David Redvers and runs for Qatar Racing with Royal Ascot his likely next assignment with a number of options on the table.
Evade is a half-brother to Group I winner National Defense and is the second stakes-winner among seven winenrs from terrific producer Angel Falls, a half-sister to Group III winner Anna Salai, the dam of Group I Epsom Derby winner Adayar.
He is the 43rd stakes-winner for Wootton Bassett (GB), who is due back in Australia for Coolmore this spring with his first Australian bred two year-olds to race next season.
