Although it won’t fully compensate for missing The Golden Eagle win aboard Skyhook, a victory in the Five Diamonds with Verona Rose will offer Kerrin McEvoy a welcome consolation.
McEvoy, the regular jockey for the Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou-trained Skyhook, was unable to ride him in last weekend’s $10 million feature event due to a disqualification related to whip usage.
He admitted that witnessing Skyhook’s triumph from afar was a bittersweet occasion, but he responded with his characteristic composure and a balanced viewpoint.
“It was disappointing for me not to be there on the big day, but at the same time it was pleasing to see the horse go out and get the job done,” McEvoy stated.
“Gerald and Sterling and myself, we were all of the opinion he’d gone to a new level, that this time in was going to be his time to shine, and that’s exactly what he’s shown.
“I cracked open a beer, and then I watched poor old Harry Coffey hit the deck (on Derby Day at Flemington), and I came to the realisation it’s not all that bad.”
McEvoy returned to the saddle at Randwick on Melbourne Cup Day and managed to secure a win in one of the supporting races on The Big Dance card.
However, a triumph aboard the Gary Portelli-trained Verona Rose in Saturday’s $2 million Five Diamonds (1800m) would significantly help to soothe the sting of his Golden Eagle miss.
“You obviously get the bit between your teeth and want to get back out there,” McEvoy commented.
“I know Gary has got her in really good form and she deserves her chance in a race like that.”
A dual Group stakes winner, Verona Rose finished third to Skyhook first-up in the Theo Marks Stakes (1300m) before consecutive placings in the Golden Pendant (1400m) and The Invitation (1400m).
She was performing strongly at the end of both those races, and despite not having won beyond a mile, she was only beaten three lengths in the 2025 ATC Oaks (2400m), giving McEvoy confidence that the 1800m trip will pose no issue.
“She showed enough promise to go out in trip as a three-year-old, so you’d think she could handle that, no problem at all,” he said.
In the day’s other significant races, McEvoy is scheduled to partner Modella for Lee and Cherie Curtis in the Group 2 Hot Danish Stakes (1400m), and Exo Velocity for Chris Waller in the $1 million Golden Gift (1100m).
The two-year-old colt impressed with a debut victory in the Kirkham Plate (1000m) last month. While McEvoy hasn’t ridden Exo Velocity since that win, he is trusting Waller’s judgment regarding the filly’s upcoming races.
“She gave me a nice feel, and she quickened really well. She’s an exciting filly for the future,” he remarked.
“She’s a Magic Millions filly so it must set up for her well to run in this and then potentially come back for something up there.
“She’s got to go out there and do it all right again at Rosehill, which is a trickier circuit for a high-pressure two-year-old race, but she’s going the right way.”
The Five Diamonds is a feature event and offers excellent opportunities for betting sites to showcase their racing odds.
