Evaporate has not yet claimed Group 1 honours, yet the Lindsay Park squad maintains that his elite win is approaching rapidly.
The four-year-old, handled by Ben, Will and J D Hayes, steps out for autumn in the Group 1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) over Caulfield track this Saturday.
Ben Hayes commented that the horse is far more robust heading into this campaign, aiding his prospects going forward.
Evaporate’s Group 1 ledger shows five attempts with three placings: a third in the Caulfield Guineas, second in the Toorak Handicap, and latest third to Jimmysstar in the C F Orr Stakes.
Lindsay Park ran the three-year-old in the Cox Plate, beaten a long way by Via Sistina, then fourth to Mr Brightside in the prior Futurity Stakes ahead of New Zealand travels.
Post Orr Stakes, he had minimal time off before two Lindsay Park-style jump-outs for his return.
“I think he’s trialled up very well this time around,” Hayes said.
“What we really like is he seems a lot more relaxed and has shown us a really good turn of foot in both his jump-outs and his work at home.
He’s a horse that has always shown us above average ability and it’s a race he can run very well in.
“He has already shown that he is capable at weight-for-age before and he’s a more hardened horse now.”
Hayes holds optimism for the hardened Evaporate, though Treasurethe Moment looms as a barrier.
Last spring, Treasurethe Moment dominated her resumption in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes here over the distance, downing Mr Brightside.
“It would be nice to get that Group 1 on his CV,” Hayes said of Evaporate.
“He’s a Group 1 horse, but we’re going to run into a horse like Treasurethe Moment who was amazing last spring campaign.
“But I think we’ve improved, which we have to, to beat her.”
Head to the racing betting markets for Futurity Stakes options.