The Tony and Calvin McEvoy-prepared import Yellow Jersey has emerged victorious in a specially arranged trial at Caulfield Heath, finishing ahead of Mr Brightside in readiness for Saturday’s Caulfield fixture.
This French-bred colt, a son of Dubawi, is being prepared for an attempt at the Cox Plate, which this year will cover 2000 metres at Flemington.
Yellow Jersey has participated in just five races, with only one start in Australia, concluding in a second-place finish over 1600 metres at Eagle Farm in June.
Calvin McEvoy described the horse as an exciting prospect with a superb pedigree, a quality the stable has always admired.
“He was a bit underdone going into his first run in Brisbane as there had been a lot of rain and it wasn’t a perfect prep going to the mile first-up,” McEvoy stated.
“I think we’ve got a better handle on him this preparation and his trial in Sydney was super, he was very strong in that trial. I thought today he was better, more controlled.”
McEvoy mentioned that there are multiple potential starting points for the gelding’s first-up run.
“There is an aggressive Memsie Stakes, there is a benchmark 100 over 1400 metres the same day in which he would get 62 (kg),” McEvoy noted. “There is the 1500-metre at Sandown the following week, there’s The Heatherlie. He’s got scope to do plenty. Trials are trials, so hopefully he can do it race day.”
In related news, the Lindsay Park team, consisting of Ben, Will, and J D Hayes, is aiming to secure the Sandown course proper for a final gallop for Mr Brightside next Saturday before his scheduled return in the Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 29.
Mr Brightside’s second-place finish in Saturday’s trial was the gelding’s second hit-out as he readies for his return to the racing circuit.
The now nine-year-old missed the autumn racing season after undergoing surgery to remove a bone chip.
Ben Hayes conveyed the team’s satisfaction with Mr Brightside’s performance.
“He was here to have a nice hit-out,” Hayes said. “He flew the gates, went to the front, had his ears pricked and he went to the line quite nicely, although he got caught on the line, but it is a trial. The most important thing is, he acted as he always does when he goes to the races. He was super quiet in the parade, he had a good healthy blow, and he’s still got to clean up in the coat a bit more.”
Mr Brightside was originally scheduled to jump-out at Flemington on Wednesday, but the Lindsay Park team felt a trip on the float would be more beneficial.
“We had the opportunity to bring him to the track, give him the race day experience and now we’re two weeks out,” Hayes continued. “We’re in discussion with the MRC to have a course proper galloper next Saturday and then he should be spot on. We want him a bit more forward than we normally do because he’s a nine-year-old now and he missed the autumn.”
Racing odds for Yellow Jersey’s upcoming starts will be of significant interest to punters.
