McEvoy's Lincoln Cup Chance Likely to Miss Cut

Wednesday, 05 March 2003 00:00

The chances of Tony McEvoy winning tomorrow week's $21,000 Carlton Draught Port Lincoln Cup (1950m) have taken a massive nose dive after weights were released this afternoon.

For connections of the Lindsay Park trained March in Style, a last start winner at Strathalbyn, it wasn't too much weight they were worried about, rather the lack of a handicap.

Thoroughbred Racing SA handicapper Andrew Macdonald has all but ended McEvoy's hopes of winning Eyre Peninsula's biggest race after giving March in Style the mininum weight of 52 kilograms.

Because of being on the minimum weight the four-year-old gelding looks almost assured of missing a start. Currently March in Style is 20th in the order of entry for a race in which only 14 horses will run. Four emergencies are provided at acceptance time.

McEvoy would no doubt love to win the Eyre Peninsula's biggest race the Port Lincoln Cup. McEvoy grew up on Eyre Peninsula around Streaky Bay, about 300 kilometres north west of the tuna capital of Australia toward Ceduna.

The Lincoln Cup is being head hunted by a few Adelaide trainers including Gary Kennewell, Byron Cozamanis, Richard Jolly and Gordon Richards.

Other trainers represented with entries include country training kings Mick Whittle and Trevor Trenowden and local mentors Noel Reidy, Ray Angelo, John Francis and Robert King.

Entries have been received for the big race from Morphettville, Angaston, Ceduna, Streaky Bay, Port Augusta, Normanville and Strathalbyn.