Victorian colt Prestar has given trainers Tony and Calvin McEvoy plenty to consider after upsetting odds-on favourite Johnny in the Schweppes Handicap (1150m) at Randwick’s Kensington track.

First-up since placing on the Caloundra Cup program in July, the $3.40 chance produced a strong finish to score by half a length and tempt connections to keep him in Sydney for carnival races.

“Really impressive young horse. A horse we’ve got a lot of time for,” Tony McEvoy said.
“I think he is a black-type horse… I’ll talk to Ash (Morgan) to see where he thinks he’ll fit and whether we stay and run in another stakes race here like a Run To The Rose or whether we should be running a bit lower than that.”

Morgan, fresh from a breakout season that included Group 1 success in The Galaxy, was impressed with Prestar’s sharp turn of foot.

Meanwhile, Ciaron Maher-trained Siriusly Hot ($16) broke through in his first start as a gelding, storming home under Chad Schofield.