Third on debut in the Listed VRC Maribyrnong Trial (1000m) behind Eurocanto, with eventual G1 MRC Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) winner Streisand in second, Tony and Calvin McEvoy’s 2yo Bivouac filly One Day At A Time improved from her first up fourth this time in to break her maiden in style on Wednesday afternoon at Sandown.
Jockey Jye McNeil jumped the filly away well from the gates before letting her drop back a little to settle in fifth position in the six-horse field, while the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained race favourite Lady Moscato was in fourth as Shane Nichols and Hayden Black’s Fontalicous went forward to lead.
With some pressure coming on the outside of the leader from Super One filly Brighterdaysahead who was making her debut, the second favourite Egyptian Dancer was starting to get on heels behind the horse in front as she was starting to make her run.
When the home turn was reached, Fontalicious still had the lead as jockey Craig Willims angled Egyptian Dancer towards the middle of the track as she started to make up ground.
Presented with a massive gap behind those ahead of her, One Day At A Time charged to the leaders, hitting the lead at the 100m mark before sailing away for a length and a half victory.
Battling back for second, the Gavin Bedggood’s Egyptian Dancer recorded her third consecutive placing, while initial leader Fontalicious held on for third.
Having now broken her maiden, coupled with two previous placed performances, the stakes placed One Day At A Time took her overall prize money haul to $71,650, with the promise of more to come.
Stable rep Mitch Wheelan was on course to discuss the win of the juvenile filly.
“He's (co trainer Calvin McEvoy) has always had a good opinion of her,” said Whelan. “She's shown plenty. Obviously only half a length off them in the Maribyrnong Trial in the spring and she's going really well.”
“It's nice to see her knock it off and Jye really deserves it as he comes in and works hard for us a couple of mornings a week. I'm just really happy for him.
“She's always been a nice type. Probably still not a heap of horse there, but she's growing and she's going the right way.
“She's very correct and has a lovely action and does everything well.
“Hopefully she can be a player in the Spring and we’ve got something to look forward to.”
Bred by Rosemont Stud who offered the filly at the Magic Millions yearling sale where she was secured by her trainers in conjunction with Damon Gabbedy’s Belmont Bloodstock for $270,000, One Day At A Time is the second winner from three to the races out of the Charge Forward mare Everyday Lady, herself a Listed winner of the Manihi Classic who also finished fourth in the G1 Robert Sangster Stakes.
From the family of Champion and Horse of the Year Weekend Hussler, G1 winner Lucky Hussler as well as G3 winners Phantom Thief and Saturday Fever, Everyday Lady foaled a filly by Hanseatic in the spring before being cover by Rosemont Stud’s resident G1 William Reid Stakes winner Schwarz.
With his oldest runners set to turn four in a few weeks, the multiple G1 winner Bivouac has made a very promising start to his career as the sire of nine stakes performers headed by G1 winners Beiwacht and Fireball Miss.
Set to stand at Darley Kelvinside for a fee of $33,000 (inc. GST), his dual G1-winning son Beiwacht should be watched as we head into the Spring after the Chris Waller trained 3yo returned to the trials this week with an impressive winning performance.
