Weir ban creates more of a level playing field: McEvoy

1 year ago

Following the four-year disqualification handed down to leading trainer Darren Weir, fellow trainer Tony McEvoy said on Monday that "it felt good going to the races knowing that there was more of a level playing field".

Weir was on Wednesday banned by the Racing and Appeals Disciplinary Board for possessing three illegal electronic apparatus known as 'jiggers' and of conduct prejudicial to the image of racing.

Speaking on SEN's Whateley, McEvoy, who won Saturday's Group 1 C.F. Orr Stakes with Manuel, said: "It's out now and he's out now and I think it's a good thing."

Asked if he thought the sport is now in a better place in the wake of Weir's disqualification, McEvoy replied: "One hundred per cent, absolutely.

"I think it should give people more confidence going forward. It's a great business and a great game we're in, and 99 per cent of the people are doing the right thing."

McEvoy revealed the message he has been spruiking since Weir was banned was "we should be supporting the game because the game's just got better for us" and "the integrity department are doing a tremendous job and they're cleaning the sport up".

On Manuel, McEvoy said he was confident the five-year-old would run really well in Saturday's $500,000 C.F. Orr Stakes at Caulfield, despite the horse being one of the outsiders of the field.

"I gave him a chance, I really did, his run in the Australia Stakes was very good," McEvoy said.

"I've always thought of him as a very good horse, I think I said to the owners before I ran him in his first race – the Maribyrnong Plate - that we've got a Group 1 horse on our hands here."

MANUEL!!!!!

Boil over in the Group 1 at Caulfield. pic.twitter.com/pOBS2f155c

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) February 9, 2019

McEvoy confirmed Manuel is being aimed at the inaugural running of the $5 million All-Star Mile at Flemington on March 16.

Follow @tmase04

FOR THE BEST PREVIEWS, MOUNTING YARD, LATE MAIL, METRO REVIEWS, TRIAL REVIEWS AND WEEKLY TOURNAMENTS, JOIN THE RACE CLUB - SILVER $6.99 p/w, GOLD $12.99 p/w.

SIGN UP NOW