Five winners for McEvoy

Kerrin McEvoy has ridden a careerhigh five winners in a day, bringing up the milestone on the Gerald Ryantrained Washington Heights at Randwick.

The win gave Ryan some consolation when Washington Heights fought back after being headed by the Chris Waller-trained Dawn Wall in the Schweppes Handicap (1400m).

Earlier the Ryan-trained Red Excitement looked like he could pull off the upset of the year before champion Winx ran him down in the Chelmsford Stakes.

As for McEvoy’s achievement, Ryan was quick to jokingly point out he had done the same in his former life.

“I rode five in a day at Warrnambool once,” he said.

“Why shouldn’t Kerrin do it at Randwick.”

McEvoy, who has two Melbourne Cups among his many Group One trophies was understandably thrilled.

“I’ve never had five in a day before,”, he said.

“And Washington Heights fought back so it was a really good win.”

Ryan said the Group Two Shannon Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill in three weeks was a possible target for Washington Heights.

McEvoy’s other winners were Up ‘N’ Rolling, Embley, and stakes winners Redzel and Formality.

Hugh Bowman rode three headlined by Winx and supported by Super Ex and My Tagoson while Josh Adams rode the other winner on the program, when Happy Clapper made a stylish return to racing in the Tramway Stakes.

An emotional Adams, who made a timely return from suspension for yesterday’s meeting, thanked the horse’s veteran trainer Pat Webster, and not just for the booking.

“It’s lovely to be able to repay someone who’s shown faith in me from the time I came I came back,” he said.

“Even before I came he helped me get my licence. We went down to Racing NSW and got my licence back.”