First-up Sandown winner Coco Sun is headed towards a Group 1 assignment in Adelaide.
The Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained filly is being aimed at the Group 1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) at Morphettville on April 27 after her return win in the Sportsbet Set A Deposit Limit Handicap (1400m) on Wednesday.
Ridden by apprentice Jaylah Kennedy, Coco Sun ($10) scored a widening 1-½ length win over Patchouli Dream ($6) with Indian Jewel ($10) the same margin away third.
The McEvoy father-and-son training team thought enough of Coco Sun to contest the Group 1 VRC Oaks (2500m) at Flemington last spring after she had acquitted herself well in Stakes race in the lead-up to that contest.
“We thought a lot of her last campaign,” Calvin McEvoy said.
“We got her to an Oaks last prep, and she looks like she has returned even better.”
McEvoy said Coco Sun was likely to stay in Melbourne for her next start, although he has not completely ruled out running the three-year-old in the Group 3 Auraria Stakes (1800m) at Morphettville on April 13.
“We’ll consider that, but we might find another race here in Victoria for her and only have one trip to Adelaide,” McEvoy said.
“She’ll get to the Australasian Oaks third-up and we’ll give her the chance to win a nice race.”
McEvoy praised Kennedy’s ride and said her 3kg claim, which reduced Coco Sun’s impost from 62kg to 59kg, had been instrumental in the filly’s success.
“I really liked her return today and it was a great ride by Jaylah,” McEvoy said.
“She is continuing to impress everyone with her riding and she’s continuing to make her mark on the metropolitan scene with that claim and we’re happy to use her.”