Lindsay Park are hoping for a confidence boosting result this weekend with their talented three-year-old Evaporate in the Gr.3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) at Randwick.
The New Zealand-bred son of Per Incanto has shown plenty of ability on the track this season but has been winless since the Gr.2 Stutt Stakes (1600m) at The Valley in September, his fourth consecutive victory before placing in the Gr.1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m).
He returned to his homeland last month where he finished runner-up behind Damask Rose in the inaugural running of the $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m), and co-trainer Will Hayes said he has thrived with the trans-Tasman trip.
“He coped with the New Zealand trip very well, he came back from the (NZB) Kiwi and I thought it was an incredibly good run,” Hayes told Racing.com.
“Mick (Dee, jockey) played all the percentages and it took an absolute masterstroke from Blake Shinn to come up the rail and beat us (aboard Damask Rose).
“He has thrived from the travel and he went up there (Sydney) with Rise At Dawn and had a tick over trial on Friday and has come through it very well.”
Hayes said the stable had a number of options when selecting his next target but felt the Carbine would hopefully net a confidence-boosting victory for their gelding.
“He looks very well placed in the set weights and penalties Carbine on the weekend,” said Hayes, who trains in partnership with his brothers Ben and JD. “It was the most winnable. We wanted to place him in a race where he could dominate and get back to winning because he has had quite a tough prep, and we just want to see him win.”
Stablemate, and fellow Kiwi-bred, Rise At Dawn will also head to Randwick this weekend where he will line-up in the Gr.1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) where he will carry a featherweight 51kg.
The four-year-old son of Almanzor won his fourth consecutive race when victorious first-up in the Listed The Elms Handicap (1400m) at Flemington in February before returning to the Melbourne track where he was sixth in the Gr.1 All-Star Mile (1600m).
Hayes has been pleased with the way he has come through the run and is excited about his chances carrying a light weight in the Doncaster this weekend.
“What he did in the Elmsford first-up was particularly impressive,” he said. “He was obviously up against a quality field in the All-Star Mile and getting in with 51 kilos is pretty exciting.
“We sent him up to Sydney a little bit early to have a tick over trial. He came through that last Friday in terrific order and we are thrilled with how he is going.
“I think with the 51 kilos he will take a bit of catching if things go our way.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
