Confidence in Epaulette’s ability and a belief the sprinter will like the Flemington straight course convinced Kerrin McEvoy to chose him over two stablemates in the Group One VRC Sprint Classic.
And having won the race on Mental last year, McEvoy is confident Epaulette is capable of making it back-to-back wins for the jockey should the dual Group One-winning sprinter put his best foot forward in Saturday’s $1 million race.
Epaulette, winner of the 2012 Golden Rose and this year’s Doomben 10,000, is one of three Peter Snowden-trained runners along with Sessions and three-year-old Sidestep.
McEvoy, Darley’s No.1 jockey, said it was a “tough choice” between Epaulette and last-start Group One Manikato Stakes placegetter Sessions.
Epaulette disappointed in his first-up Moir Stakes seventh, but McEvoy felt the sprinter didn’t handle Moonee Valley and a “shifting track” after rain on the night.
McEvoy was taken by Epaulette’s recent jump-out down the Flemington straight when the sprinter returned to Melbourne after a freshen-up at Darley’s farm in NSW.
“He’s in great order and if he turns up and concentrates and gives 100 per cent he’s going to give this race a real shake,” McEvoy said.
“I really feel that the straight racing is going to suit Epaulette.
“I might be wrong but I feel it’s going to help him land closer to the pace. Some of the races up in Queensland (during the winter) he got six to 10 lengths off the front and that can prove hard to turn around once you’re going for home.
“If he can lay up a bit closer it’s going to help him attacking the last two furlongs.”
McEvoy said last year’s winner Mental was reliable whereas Epaulette has a few quirks and needs to bounce back from the last-start disappointment.
“Mental was in fantastic form last year. Epaulette at his best is every bit as good as Mental, so we’re hopeful,” he said.
McEvoy has ridden four winners during the Melbourne Cup carnival but is chasing his first Group One for the week.
He is still lamenting last Saturday’s Victoria Derby where he rode Complacent to second behind Polanski and felt interference the colt suffered back in the field 2000m out could have cost him victory.
