Calvin McEvoy observed a fitting synchronicity as Yellow Jersey accompanied Half Yours during a workout at Sandown on Saturday, with both horses nearing their spring racing comebacks.

Last year, Half Yours provided McEvoy and his father Tony with a taste of the pressure that accompanies the carnival’s major events, and it’s this same level of aspiration the stable holds for Yellow Jersey.

The McEvoys hold significant Cox Plate ambitions for the imported galloper, who is set to resume in this Saturday’s $200,000 Listed Heatherlie Handicap at Caulfield.

“He’s very untapped and he comes with a very big profile, which comes with pressure, I think,” Calvin McEvoy commented.

“He cost a lot of money and the horse needs to come out and perform.

“Imports don’t always do that, but I believe that we’ve seen enough from him that has shown us that he’s a really good horse.

“He needs to go to the races and perform and I’m hoping that he can be another headline horse for us.”

The 1700-metre Heatherlie Handicap will be the sixth career start for Yellow Jersey. He won his first three races in France before achieving a second placing over 2200m at Group 2 level prior to his export to Australia.

His sole run in Australia was a narrow second in the Listed Wayne Wilson Stakes (1600m) at Eagle Farm on June 13.

The McEvoys had considered a start for Yellow Jersey in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m), but opted to manage his rating and keep options open, especially as he is also entered for the Caulfield Cup, a Group 1 handicap over 2400m for which weights are yet to be released.

“If he were to run sharp in that sort of race, there’s a chance he’d get eight to 10 (ratings) points and we thought that was a low percentage play,” Calvin stated.

Yellow Jersey held a slight advantage over Half Yours at the conclusion of Saturday’s track gallop. This session was part of a preparation geared towards a start in the Makybe Diva Stakes, a race targeted by last year’s Caulfield/Melbourne Cups champion.

“He was a little bit fresh in behind, travelled very strongly and couldn’t have worked any nicer,” McEvoy said of Half Yours.

“He had a healthy blow, he gets one more trial this coming Friday and then goes into the Makybe Diva Stakes first-up.

“He’s exactly where you want him to be.”

The $750,000 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) is scheduled for Flemington on September 12.

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