The Lindsay Park training operation, managed by Ben, Will, and J D Hayes, is looking forward to the forthcoming spring racing season for their promising galloper, Evaporate.

Although still officially in winter, the Caulfield race meeting scheduled for Saturday has a definite spring feel, particularly the Group 2 P B Lawrence Stakes, a 1400-metre contest.

This weight-for-age race has drawn a competitive field, with nine of the thirteen horses accepted for the race resuming from a spell.

Evaporate is one of these runners and enters Saturday’s race having completed two solid jump-outs in preparation.

In his first jump-out on July 17 at Werribee, Evaporate finished second to Zou Sensation. Two weeks later, on August 3 at Flemington, he defeated Caviar Heights over 800 metres.

“The second one was on the course proper, and he went well,” J D Hayes shared.

“He seems to have come back bigger and better which is pretty exciting for the spring as he has a pretty good CV to now, and hopefully he can improve on it.

“He’s been oh so close to a Group 1, so he doesn’t have to improve too far, we hope.”

Evaporate has an impressive record, including a second placing in last year’s Toorak Handicap, a third in the Golden Eagle (now a Group 1), a third in the CF Orr Stakes, and a narrow second in the All-Star Mile.

Hayes mentioned that a Group 1 victory is the only significant achievement missing from Evaporate’s career, which has seen him win six races and place nine times from 23 starts, earning almost $3.2 million in prize money.

With the Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield, scheduled two weeks after Saturday’s race, appearing to be a very strong contest, Hayes indicated that the So You Think Stakes (1500m) at Sandown on September 5 might be a more suitable target.

“We’ll get through Saturday first and then work it from there,” Hayes commented.

“The Memsie looks like a pretty hot edition, so he could go to Sandown the week after, but the Toorak Handicap (at Caulfield in October) does look appetising.

“He went oh so close last year and hopefully he can go one better this year if we decide to go that way.”

Acclaimed jockey Blake Shinn, who has ridden multiple winners in his first two meetings back from injury, will be aboard Evaporate on Saturday. Jamie Melham is booked to ride stablemate Coeur Volante.

Melham is also returning from a break, having not ridden in Victoria since ‘Finals Day’ at Flemington in July. She recently gained experience riding for the Rest of the World Team in the Shergar Cup at Ascot.

Coeur Volante was successful twice over 1400m at Caulfield in June and July before finishing fourth in her last start behind Sass Appeal over 1400m at Flemington on August 1.

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