Last Saturday’s Sydney Cup winning jockey Kerrin McEvoy has been booked to ride Kiwi youngster Sicario in the Group 1 $500,000 Moet & Chandon Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Jockey Kerrin McEvoy has been booked to ride Sicario in the Champagne Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Daniel Costello.
McEvoy was at his best when he rated Gillante perfectly out in the front to lead all of the way to win the Group 1 $2m Schweppes Sydney Cup (3200m) at Randwick on the day two of ‘The Championships’.
Cambridge trainer Trent Busuttin said that Sicario will arrive in Sydney on Wednesday night to chase another Autumn Carnival Group 1 win after he and co-trainer Natalie Young collected the spoils when Tavago with Tommy Berry in the saddle race away to win the Group 1 $2m BMW Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick on day one of ‘The Championships’ on April 2.
“The horse is booked on a flight tomorrow (Wednesday) night and at this stage he is more than likely to be going over,” Busuttin told the NZ Racing Desk.
Busuttin knows that Sicario is facing up against a smart filly in the shape of Yankee Rose who was very impressive in winning the Group 1 $1m Inglis Sires’ (1400m) on Australian Derby Day.
“If the filly (Yankee Rose) turns up she’ll be winning, but with two-year-olds you never really know and we’ve got nothing to lose,’ Busuttin said.
“If he stayed here to run at Ellerslie there’s the strong possibility of another wet track and that’s not ideal for this horse.”
“We’re under no illusions about the massive jump in class. It’s a fact that New Zealand two-year-old form is inferior to Australian form, probably anywhere in the world is inferior, but the reality is that he was booked to go over there with us anyway.”
Busuttin and Young are planning to relocate their training operation to Cranbourne and Sicario, along with Australian Derby winner Tavago, will be part of their new Victorian set up.
Sicario has only been to the races on two occasions for two seconds and is coming off a last start second to Luna Rossa in the Group 1 NZ$250,000 Ford Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Awapuni on April 2 on a heavy track.
Busuttin said that Sicario wasn’t really comfortable on the rain affected track in the Sires’ Produce Stakes and is hoping for a better racing surface this week at Randwick.
“The 1400m on a heavy track in New Zealand was like a swamp so I suppose that’s like a mile,” Busuttin said.
“We think he’s a pretty smart horse and I think he’ll end up a Group horse at some stage.”
In early betting for the Champagne Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au, Sicario has been marked as a $15 chance with Yankee Rose at the top of the market order at $1.35.
Early market order for the Champagne Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au: $1.35 Yankee Rose, $8 Prized Icon, Divine Prophet, Obscura, $13 Chimboraa, Faraway Town, $15 Sicario, $17 Jaws Off Steel, $26 Crown Him, $34 Pop, $81 North Sky.
