2016 Maribyrnong Plate for Inglis Banner Winner Azazel

Master trainer of early two-year-olds Tony McEvoy has confirmed an Emirates Stakes Day run down the Flemington straight in the Maribyrnong Plate 2016 for his Cox Plate Day Inglis Banner winner Azazel.

Inglis Banner winner Azazel is onto Flemington’s Emirates Stakes Day during the Melbourne Cup Carnival. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

Kicking off the Moonee Valley card was the Restricted Listed $250,000 Inglis Banner (1000m) for two-year-olds where McEvoy’s promising son of Snitzel Azazel made his debut.

The colt came into the race on the back of a winning Cranbourne trial over 800m in the wet on October 17 and he relished the give in the ground on the Soft (5) Moonee Valley course first-up.

Race favourite, the Chris Waller-trained Luiza was the only non-maiden in the field coming off a 1000m Randwick win from earlier in the month.

The I Am Invincible filly was first to jump and went through to show the way from the Clinton McDonald-trained Exceed And Excel filly Pure Emotion.

After failing to fire from the gates, eventual winning hoop Luke Currie had Azazel settled midfield and wide.

Tracking in third was the Lindsay Park-trained Luqyaa ahead of Red Zephyr, while the Anthony Cummings-trained Fastnet Rock colt Ephesian was travelling well out wide around the outside.

Luiza led into the turn and was quickly under the whip as the challengers came.

Storming up through the middle was Currie on Azazel, while the John Moloney-trained Statue Of Liberty colt Can’t Remember from the widest barrier was closing strongly on the outside.

Azazel ($5) hit the lead at the 100m and raced on strongly to the line, surging to win by one and a half lengths from Can’t Remember ($26) with Ephesian ($51) adding even more value to the Inglis Banner trifecta in third.

Currie built momentum steadily throughout the race and in the end his horse had the powerful late charge to win impressively and post that crucial first win after being off the track the whole way midfield and wide.

“He was strong to the line,” Currie said post-win.

McEvoy was confident going into the Inglis Banner and pleased with the horse’s efforts confirmed he would race again at Flemington on Saturday November 5 on the closing day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival in the $150,000 Group 3 Maribyrnong Plate (1000m).

“He didn’t ping the gate but [Luke] gave him room to come around them and he really levelled down and let down beautifully late,” McEvoy said summing up the race.

“He’s a quality horse.

“He’s been the pointy end all the way through [of McEvoy’s two-year-olds] and he has continued to impress me and step up to the plate.

“He’s a good big strong horse, he’s sound and wants to be here.

“I think we can go to the Maribyrnong [Plate] then sweeten him up for the autumn.”

To back Azazel next race during the Melbourne Cup Carnival at the right price head to Ladbrokes.com.au now.

2016 Inglis Banner Results & Finishing Order

Moonee Valley Race 1 – 22/10/2016