Jockey Kerrin McEvoy came to Melbourne today under pressure to perform and he did just that in today's Group 3 Gilgai Stakes on El Cambio.
It was a watershed day for the Peter Snowden stable, winning their first Group 1 race for Darley Australia in Sydney with Sousa in the Spring Champion Stakes.
The stable were also successful late in the day when Neroli won the Listed Angst Stakes.
But for McEvoy, getting up on a Darley horse as he left Sydney for the spring carnival in Melbourne was equally important.
The international rider had copped plenty of flack from Sydney punters for his recent performances and more recently Sydney stewards, who have told him to sharpen his act.
Facing scrutiny to perform, McEvoy returned to the scene where he launched it all, as a young kid who won the Melbourne Cup on Brew.
McEvoy's day at Flemington wasn't going well, finishing unplaced on his first four rides including favourite Romneya in the Edward Manifold Stakes.
But in the Gilgai, aboard the Darley owned
El Cambio 
, he bounced back to his best with a hard fought win.
Settling well off the pace as the field came to the outside rail, El Cambio tracked through before ranging up and driving home in a tight finish, winning narrowly over the eternally luckless Swick.
Murtajill was in the three way photo but grabbed third while Grand Duels, who did all the work in front, was game in defeat and finished fourth.
McEvoy said it was nice to be back in Melbourne but even nicer to be back in the winners stall.
“It's the first time I've ridden him in a race but he has a terrific record,” McEvoy said.
“He did well as a three-year-old but I think he'll be even better at four.”
Snowden's son Paul, the Melbourne foreman, gave McEvoy 10/10 for the ride and said he will talk over El Cambio's campaign tomorrow.
Mathew Ellerton's dream day turned to a nightmare as Sunburnt Lad was a late scratching after breaking through the barriers.
Earlier in the day Ellerton was thrilled to see Bellini Rose back to winning form in the Group 2 Blazer Stakes, and was hoping to see Sunburnt Lad, favourite for the Gilgai, bring up a winning double.
But he tried to burrow under the gates as they were ready to jump and had to be scratched after thrashing out when caught under the machine.
Ellerton has had little go right with Sunburnt Lad as he was balloted from races he had been set for earlier in the spring and only gained a start in today's race as an emergency.
:rrr: :rrr:
