The breeder of Listed Rosebud winner
Gilbert was left to race Evacuation after he failed to make his $150,000 reserve at the 2015 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling sale.
He looks to have pulled the right rein. Off the scene since an impressive debut win at Kembla back in April, the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained colt powered to a dominant victory under Kerrin McEvoy in Saturday's St Mary's RSL 3YO Benchmark 70 Handicap (1400m).
Revelling in the heavy ground, Evacuation came away in the closing stages to defeat the James Cummings-trained
The stable has a high opinion of the colt and has mapped out an ambitious programme.
"Melbourne is an accurate target for him," Bott said.
"He's a Guineas horse.
"The Guineas has always been earmarked for him with the timing of everything.
"We didn't want to rush him to the Golden Rose."
Bott indicated the Group II Bill Stutt Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley would be an ideal lead-up.
A three-quarter-brother to Listed Canberra Guineas winner Interspeed (Sebring) and a half-brother to Magic Millions Sprint winner Shamrock Slipper (Jet Spur), Evacuation is the fifth foal of the unraced Tale Of The Cat mare Scattered a daughter of Highgrove's star matron Fragmentation.
A stakes-winning daughter of Snippets, Fragmentation is the dam of Group 1 Newmarket Handicap winner Wanted (Fastnet Rock) and Group II Yallambee Classic winner Shrapnel (Charge Forward).
Scattered has a 2yo colt by Pierro that was purchased by Sun Bloodstock for $200,000 at this year's Easter Yearling sale. After missing to Fastnet Rock in 2014, Scattered was covered by I Am Invincible last spring.
