Yellow Jersey, a Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained import, has set the pace in a specially arranged trial at Caulfield Heath, finishing ahead of Mr Brightside as preparations continue for Saturday’s meeting at Caulfield.
The French-bred colt by Dubawi is being primed for an assault on the Cox Plate, which this year will be contested over 2000 metres at Flemington.
Yellow Jersey has raced a mere five times, with only one start in Australia, where he finished second over 1600 metres at Eagle Farm in June.
Calvin McEvoy described the horse as an exciting prospect with a strong pedigree, a trait the stable has always valued.
“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 mentioned that several options are available for the gelding’s initial start of the preparation.
“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 said. “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 training partnership of Ben, Will, and J D Hayes are hopeful of gaining access to the Sandown track proper next Saturday for a final piece of work for Mr Brightside ahead of his return in the Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 29.
Mr Brightside’s second-place finish in Saturday’s trial was the second hit-out for the gelding as he prepares for his racetrack reappearance.
The now nine-year-old missed the autumn racing season after undergoing surgery for a bone chip.
Ben Hayes conveyed that the team was pleased with Mr Brightside’s trial.
“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 initially scheduled for a jump-out at Flemington on Wednesday, but the Lindsay Park team decided a trip on the float would offer more benefit.
“We had the opportunity to bring him to the track, give him the race day experience and now we’re two weeks out,” Hayes explained. “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.”
Keep an eye on Yellow Jersey as his spring campaign unfolds; betting markets will be keenly observing.
