Tony McEvoy is pleased with the condition of his juveniles ahead of the two Blue Diamond Preview races at Caulfield Racecourse on Australia Day.
Tony McEvoy will saddle Azazel in Thursday’s Blue Diamond Preview C&G at Caulfield. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos
McEvoy is spoiled for choice with a number of standout two-year-old’s heading towards the Group 1 Ladbrokes Blue Diamond (1200m) in late February, and will saddle Azazel in the Listed Blue Diamond Preview C&G (1000m) and Miss Wahoo in the Group 3 Blue Diamond Preview F (1000m) on Thursday.
The Angaston trainer told Racing Ahead that he is thrilled with both horses leading into their respective Blue Diamond Preview races and said that Azazel will benefit from the Caulfield bend, having been lost on the Flemington straight last time out.
“I’m very pleased with them at this early stage,” McEvoy said.
“He (Azazel) was just running left the whole way and to run as close as he did when he didn’t go forward at any stage of the race was an incredible performance.
“He didn’t lose any faith from me and I was very pleased with his trial the other day.
“He trialled at Pakenham and trialled beautifully, and I’m looking forward to him on Thursday.”
McEvoy is also confident that Miss Wahoo can go one better in the Blue Diamond Preview for fillies after bombing the start and running second in the New Year Plate (1000m) at Flemington on January 1st.
“It was Kerrin McEvoy’s plan to come out and ride on the back of Oscietra the favourite and sadly our filly just didn’t jump well enough to do that,” he said.
“Darren Weir’s filly (Limestone) got in there fast and we had to slot in behind her and if you look at the sections of the race, had we settled second the winner wouldn’t have been able to pick us up.
“I think she was stiff not to win that race and she’s come on beautifully from it.”
Azazel immediately stamped himself as a colt to follow when debuting to racing for a smart win in the Inglis Banner (1000m) on October 22nd, and was last seen finishing fourth in the Group 3 Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) on November 5th.
Miss Wahoo is yet to secure a race win, having finished third in the Listed Debutant Stakes (1000m) on October 8th, in what was her only other start prior to the New Year Plate.
