Caulfield debut success sends Natural Fling to Queensland riches
Natural Fling, fresh from her winning debut, will chase Queensland targets including a valuable juvenile contest after her Caulfield triumph.
Trained by the Tony and Calvin McEvoy combination, the filly was a strong market fancy to win the Sportsbet Feed Handicap (1100m) and she set the pace all the way in an impressive showing.
Harry Coffey aboard the $2.10 favourite guided Natural Fling to a three-length victory over Jarbardar ($6), with Shooting Brake ($6.50) 1-½ lengths adrift in third.
The McEvoy duo is eyeing the $1 million Magic Millions National 2YO Classic (1000m) at the Gold Coast on May 22 as the ideal next step for the filly.
They previously took out the race in 2024 with Arabian Summer during its Doomben staging.
"She's going to be looking to kick on up to Queensland," Calvin McEvoy said.
"There's a $1 million race up there to consider.
"She's very fast and the 1000 or 1100 metres, I don't think it matters, but I was so impressed with her attitude today and she handled it all very well and that will take her a long way."
The filly sports the colours of Magic Millions graduate Sunlight, includes backers from dual Cups hero Half Yours, and hails from debut sire Home Affairs.
Both Sunlight and Home Affairs landed the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Carnival's first day.
"She's been very natural all the way along with a terrific attitude," McEvoy said.
"Home Affairs is doing a pretty good job and it's a really good ownership group, some of our biggest supporters, some from Sunlight and some from Half Yours.
"She's a filly that we have always loved, and we came here very confident, but the track was something that came up as a little bit of a query.
"She's fast, had shown good ability in her jump-outs, but they all had to get through it.
"Harry had to use her a little bit, but she was quite dominant in the end."
Check the online bookmakers to find value in the racing betting markets for the Magic Millions National 2YO Classic.
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