The Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained galloper Yellow Jersey finished ahead of Mr Brightside in a specially arranged trial at Caulfield Heath on the eve of Saturday’s Caulfield meeting.
The French-bred son of Dubawi is being pointed towards a start in the Cox Plate, which this year will be contested over 2000 metres at Flemington.
Yellow Jersey has competed in only five races to date, with a single Australian start resulting in a second-place finish over 1600 metres at Eagle Farm in June.
Calvin McEvoy commented that Yellow Jersey is an exciting and very well-bred horse that the stable has consistently held in high regard.
“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 noted that there are several options 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 elaborated. “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.”
Meanwhile, the Lindsay Park team, comprising Ben, Will, and J D Hayes, is aiming to secure access to the Sandown track proper next Saturday for a final gallop for Mr Brightside prior to his return in the Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 29.
Mr Brightside’s second-place finish in Saturday’s trial marked his second outing as he readies for his racetrack comeback.
The now nine-year-old missed the autumn season due to surgery for a bone chip.
Ben Hayes expressed 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 scheduled for a jump-out at Flemington on Wednesday, but the Lindsay Park team concluded he would gain more benefit from a trip on the float.
“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.”
For those interested in the best betting apps Australia, Yellow Jersey’s spring campaign is one to watch closely.