Calvin McEvoy knows Saturday’s $150,000 Geelong Diamond represents a sharp rise in difficulty from Moana Spirit’s debut, but that challenge is exactly what excites the young trainer.

The Melbourne Cup-winning conditioner, who trains alongside his father Tony McEvoy, is keen to learn more about the Tagaloa filly in a race that has quickly developed a reputation for producing elite talent.

Moana Spirit is one of four runners in the 1100-metre event to be unbeaten after one start, and McEvoy is eager to see how the Yulong-bred filly stacks up against stronger opposition.

“It’s the time of the year that a lot of the horses that maybe missed the spring features are up and going now and I think she’s got a bright future, so I’m looking forward to seeing her in this race,” McEvoy said.

Recent winners underline the race’s quality, with Cherish Me taking last year’s edition before starting second favourite in the Blue Diamond, while inaugural winner Stay Focused later finished as the first colt home behind Hayasugi.

The Geelong Diamond was chosen as Moana Spirit’s second start following her two-length debut win at Morphettville on December 6, a race marred by odds-on favourite Inhabit pulling up with an issue.

An impressive 800m Flemington jumpout since has further boosted confidence.

“She went to Adelaide as a raw filly and won, albeit when the favourite had heart arrythmia, but still won really well and she’s taken a lot of improvement from that experience,” McEvoy said.

“She had a very nice trial in between and I think she’s in with a nice chance.”

Rochelle Milnes rode Moana Spirit on debut, but Luke Currie takes over at Geelong, where she is a firm second favourite behind the Ciaron Maher-trained Ghana’s Akan.