Yellow Jersey and Half Yours shared a workout at Sandown on Saturday, a session Calvin McEvoy noted for its symmetry as both horses approach their spring campaign returns.
Last year, Half Yours provided McEvoy and his father Tony with an introduction to the pressure associated with the carnival’s major events, and it’s this same level of ambition the team has for Yellow Jersey.
The McEvoys have set their sights on Cox Plate success for the highly-rated import, who is slated to make his reappearance in this Saturday’s $200,000 Listed Heatherlie Handicap at Caulfield.
“He’s very untapped and he comes with a very big profile, which comes with pressure, I think,” Calvin McEvoy commented.
“He cost a lot of money and the horse needs to come out and perform.
“Imports don’t always do that, but I believe that we’ve seen enough from him that has shown us that he’s a really good horse.
“He needs to go to the races and perform and I’m hoping that he can be another headline horse for us.”
The 1700-metre Heatherlie Handicap will be the sixth start for Yellow Jersey. He won his initial three races in France before a second-place finish over 2200m at Group 2 level prior to his export to Australia.
His single run in Australia was a narrow second in the Listed Wayne Wilson Stakes (1600m) at Eagle Farm on June 13.
The McEvoys had considered a start for Yellow Jersey in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m), but decided against it to protect his rating and keep options open, especially as he is also entered for the Caulfield Cup, a 2400m Group 1 handicap for which weights have not yet been released.
“If he were to run sharp in that sort of race, there’s a chance he’d get eight to 10 (ratings) points and we thought that was a low percentage play,” Calvin stated.
Yellow Jersey maintained a slight lead over Half Yours at the conclusion of Saturday’s track gallop. This exercise was part of a preparation aimed at a return in the Makybe Diva Stakes, the target race for last year’s Caulfield/Melbourne Cups champion.
“He was a little bit fresh in behind, travelled very strongly and couldn’t have worked any nicer,” McEvoy said of Half Yours.
“He had a healthy blow, he gets one more trial this coming Friday and then goes into the Makybe Diva Stakes first-up.
“He’s exactly where you want him to be.”
The $750,000 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) is scheduled to be held at Flemington on September 12.
Check out the racing odds and explore sports betting options at racing betting markets.