McEvoy’s back at Flemington

With Chris Waller about to move into a bigger stable complex at Flemington, Tony and Calvin Mcevoy are making a return to headquarters.

The father-and-son training operation left Flemington to concentrate on their Ballarat stable in 2021 but have harboured ambitions of returning.

That opportunity has arisen with James Cummings leaving Flemington and Waller taking over those boxes at Carbine Lodge, leaving Waller’s 31 box stable vacant.

“This opportunity represents not an expansion, but a strategic restructure of our training model, designed to enhance the way we prepare and develop our horses,” the McEvoy’s said in a statement.

“Flemington will perfectly compliment our main base at Ballarat, where we enjoy a relaxed country setting with hill gallops and a state-of-the-art undercover woodchip track.

“By combining these features with a metropolitan base at Flemington, we’re adding valuable variety to our horses’ routines, a factor we believe is key to stimulating their development and increasing the longevity of their preparations.”

Tony McEvoy enjoyed considerable Group 1 success when training at Flemington.

He was head trainer for the Lindsay Park stable, with a Flemington base, following the sudden death of Peter Hayes in 2001 while David Hayes was training in Hong Kong.

McEvoy had a base at Flemington after taking over the Barossa property known as Raceside of the Lindsay Park operation in South Australia, renaming it Kildalton Park in 2010.

The 31-box stable marks a return to headquarters where the team has many fond memories.

“Flemington provides access to elite training surfaces, weekly high-quality grass jump-outs, and close proximity to metropolitan racing,” they said.

“This not only benefits our horses but also enhances outcomes for our training team and valued owners, particularly by making racing in Melbourne’s south side more accessible.

“With Chris Waller moving his Flemington stables to Carbine Lodge, this has presented us with an opportunity to take over Chris’s stable, which has been home to over 50 Group 1 winners.

“It’s an honour to take on its legacy, and we’re committed to building our own success from within its walls.”

The McEvoy’s will begin moving horses into the new stable in coming weeks.

“With spring just around the corner, we can’t wait to get started,” they said.