Tony McEvoy’s decision to operate stables in two states paid dividends at Morphettville on Saturday.

His Casino Prince gelding Pit Boss had been placed at Newcastle and Rosehill last month before the big wet in NSW forced connections to send him back to South Australia.

McEvoy launched Kidalton Park at Angaston in 2010 and added stables at Hawkesbury earlier this year.  “It made sense to bring my horses back home,” he said.  “Apart from the meetings being called off in NSW, we have an excellent training track here – that’s the benefit of our two-state operation.”

Pit Boss (2g Casino Prince – Bird Royale by Bluebird) produced a strong finish to win the SAJC Celebrating 140 Years Hcp (1400m) on Saturday.  “He showed me early on he could sprint,” McEvoy said.  “But I think he will be at his best at a mile and further.”

McEvoy trains Pit Boss for his business partner Wayne Mitchell and Keith Biggs also kept a share after selling him for $80,000 at the 2012 Gold Coast Magic Millions.  Biggs raced his dam Bird Royale to 4 wins in Perth and she was also stakes placed at Ascot and Belmont.

Incoming Vinery sire Casino Prince holds across-the-board leads in Australia’s second-season premierships for 2012-13.  His prizemoney earnings of $4.21 million puts him on another level altogether above second-placed Bernardini ($1.67 million).

Pit Boss was his 37th individual winner in Australia this season and they have won a total of 66 races.  Next best in those categories is Magnus with 35 winners of 54 races.

Casino Prince (Flying Spur) and his champion son All To Hard will add another dimension to the Vinery roster this year.

Casino Prince was a G1 winner of the Chipping Norton Stakes and he was crowned Australia’s champion first-season sire in 2011-12.  He will stand for a $22,000 (inc gst) at Vinery this year.

– Karl Patterson