As one of just two fillies contesting Saturday’s time-honoured $200,000 Listed VRC St Leger Stakes (2800m) at Flemington’s Anzac Day meeting, the Tony and Calvin McEvoy trained grey Toronado (IRE) filly Silvasista highlighted her class with a dominant display, winning by three and a half lengths.
Coming off a 2200m win at Donald last time out when scoring by a length and a quarter, it was a clearly a confidence boosting victory for the filly who had disappointed the start prior in Listed company.
Jumping away the second favourite behind the Matt Cumani trained Deal Done Fast, the pair where the only runners under double figure odds in the large 17-horse field.
Luke Currie settled Silvasista in a mid-filed position during the run, with Trapeze Artist gelding Awesome Artist, one of four runners in the field for trainer Ciaron Maher, heading up to lead the field.
With 800m to run, it was evident which of the runners had staying ability and those that didn’t as many in the field started to drop of as the home turn approached.
With Luke Currie sitting pretty aboard his filly, Silvasista came from behind the leaders to make a challenge, sprinting past with absolute ease, pulling away to record a facile three and a half length win.
Finishing in second, the Aaron Purcell trained Finance Merchant is still a maiden after eight starts, but a win looks on the horizon for the son of Kooringal Stud's Merchant Navy.
“She’s a lovely filly and we weren’t sure whether she’d stay on pedigree,” said Calvin McEvoy.
“It was a beautiful ride from Luke (Currie) ... only thing we said to Luke was on trial at this distance, really get her to switch off… and be last to challenge.
“He wasn’t so much last to challenge but she was travelling so well, he couldn’t have executed it any better.”
McEvoy said Silvasista is now likely to head towards the G3 SA Fillies Classic (2500m) at Morphettville on May 9.
“She’s continued to really go through the grades and today was a big test,” McEvoy said.
“What a fantastic race to win here at Flemington, on Anzac Day, we’re very proud to win it.”
Becoming just the 18th filly in 170 editions to win the Flemington feature staying contest, Silvasista’s race time was narrowly outside the class record.
The victory takes her record overall record to three wins and two placed efforts from seven starts with earnings of $281,075 with the Graham and Linda Huddy having bred and retained part ownership in the filly.
Silvasista joins Silvera (High Chaparral) as the lone stakes winners from four winners out of the Ferocity mare Silver Tiara, a half-sister to the Huddy’s former Champion 3yo and five time G1 winner Shoot Out as well as G3 winners I’m A Princess and Cassandra Shadow.
Silver Tiara has had no luck since foaling Silvasista, missing both times she has been covered.
Silvasista became the 51st stakes winner for Swettenham Stud’s Toronado, whose progeny haul are headed by six G1 winners.
