Omagh Looking to Extend Pair's Streak

Thursday, 29 August 2002 00:00

Leading trainer Tony McEvoy is hoping his sizzling form can continue in Melbourne on Saturday as the Spring Carnival warms up with the running of the Group Two Memsie Stakes.

Yesterday at Lindsay Park's favourite stomping ground, Balaklava, "Mac" prepared six of the eight winners, in a day which included two quinellas and a trifecta.

There's no time to celebrate the remarkable achievement from Balaklava, as McEvoy now has other things on his mind.

On Saturday in Melbourne his high class galloper Fields of Omagh is gunning to win his eighth straight race and extend the incredible winning streak of McEvoy and the galloper himself.

McEvoy and connections have given glowing reports on the gelding who returned from a leg injury with a sizzling first up win in the recent Aurie's Star Handicap at Flemington.

"I can't fault him at all," McEvoy said. "He's been working really well at Euroa and he came down to the Flemington stables yesterday."

Although confident the gelding will again run well on the weekend, McEvoy is wary of a stronger field this time around.

"The field on Saturday is very strong, with proven champions like Northerly," McEvoy said. "But he's going to give the race a great shake."

Proven big race jockey Greg Childs is back in Melbourne after riding Sunline to a triumphant return in New Zealand last Saturday, and he will again partner the classy son of Rubiton.

Northerly who arrived in Melbourne on Tuesday night, has his first run in Victoria since his fighting second in the Group One Australian Cup at Flemington behind fellow sand groper Old Comrade.

The Kersley trained gelding, who is again running without blinkers, is being aimed at back to back Cox Plates in October, and he should strip fitter after his fair first up fifth in Perth a fortnight ago.

The Bart Cummings trained runaway VRC Oaks winner Magical Miss adds further spice to the race after her eye catching first up fourth to Fields of Omagh in the Aurie's Star.

The daughter of Danehill is one of the early favourites for the Cups double later in the spring and she has impressed track watchers since her first up effort.

Group One winning trainer Mike Moroney is giving his in form gelding The Big Ask just that in the Memsie. A winner of his past three starts, the Jason Patton mount has never ran in a race of this quality in the past.

The ghostly grey Le Zagaletta who most had thought had scored a last stride win in last Saturday's JJ Liston Stakes at Caulfield, only to be denied by the oldtimer Sports, is backing up for Steven King and Lee Freedman.

PICS - Quentin Lang.