Jockey Kerrin McEvoy will ride French galloper Trevieres in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield on Saturday and could not be happier with the condition of the Gold Away gelding.
Leading jockey Kerrin McEvoy will ride Trevieres in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap at Caulfield on Saturday. Photo by: Daniel Costello
McEvoy rode Trevieres in trackwork for the first time at the International Equine Centre at Werribee this morning and was brimming in praise for the condition of the five-year-old who is set to become the first ever European-trained horse to compete in the Toorak Handicap.
“He’s arrived here in great condition, very, very fit and very happy,” McEvoy told AAP.
“He was a little bit lazy working on his own but they tell me he switches on on race days.”
Trevieres will be making his debut at Group level but heads into the race on the back of strong wins in the Grand Handicap Longines (2000m) at Chantilly in June and the Grand Handicap De Deauville (1600m) in August.
The Markus Nigge-trained gelding has performed consistently at a mile throughout his racing career and McEvoy is confident that the foreign raider is ready to run a big race this weekend.
“He’s only got 52 (kg) on Saturday, and it’s not the strongest Toorak you’ve seen,” McEvoy said.
“It’s his first run in Australia and he’s stepping up to Group One grade but he’s been hitting the line nicely in big fields in handicaps.
“If he can get around Caulfield he’s got to be a rough each-way chance.”
McEvoy will be riding in the Toorak Handicap for the seventh time in his career but he is still chasing his first-ever win in the $400,000 race.
The leading jockey finished third in the 2002 edition of the race with Michael Moroney-trained Pernod but finished outside the placings with Aka Bilk (2000), Umrum (2001), Natural Blitz (2003), Marching (2008) and Dreamway (2011).
Trevieres was also included in the nominations for the Group 1 Caulfield Stakes (2000m) and Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) at Caulfield this weekend and has been entered for the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m), Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) and Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m).
