Verdane earns 1000th Flat victory for trainer David Evans in the Begbies Traynor Group Maiden Stakes
It was a proud moment for trainer, David Evans, when he saddled the 1,000th Flat winner of his career. All thanks to the two-year-old, Verdane, whose victory earned the trainer an important milestone in his career.
Mounted by James Doyle, the son of Halling, out of mare Society Rose, was on a mission to prove himself in the six furlong long Begbies Traynor Group Maiden Stakes (Div II) at Salisbury, on 27th June, 2012.
For a newcomer, he definitely performed well, since he claimed victory over the Richard Hannon trained, Echion, by a small margin of half-length, while the third place was claimed by the Brian Meehan trained, Bairam.
The race did not end well for the favourite, the Clive Cox trained, Related, who finished in fourth place.
Verdane’s victory was a milestone for the trainer, who was proud of his achievement, but did not celebrate it big, he simply stated:
"I've celebrated enough most days so we didn't do anything, and it crept up on me a bit, but it shows how far we've come with the class of horses we get.”
The trainer appreciated Verdane’s effort and further added:
"I think Verdane is a really nice sort. I didn't expect him to win but he'd been showing a bit at home. We've not got as many two-year-olds this year and I expect we'll get all sorts of offers for him, but the owner would only sell at the right price."
On the same day, Salisbury was also a lucky venue for the Ralph Beckett trained, Riot of Colour. The three-year-old filly who finally bagged a victory after four consecutive finishes as a runner-up.
Teamed with rider Jim Crowley, the bay filly justified her status of a favourite, and claimed the victory over Richard Hannon’s charge, Dalkova, by a marginal difference of ¾ of a length, in the Smith & Williamson Maiden Fillies' Stakes, which covered
a distance of seven furlongs, while the Charles Hills trained, Bunraku, finished third.
The trainer stated that it was frustrating to see the runner finish in second so many times, but he was glad that she managed to finally do it.
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