McEvoy shrugs illness
CHAMPION jockey Kerrin McEvoy will climb out of his sick bed to test his fitness at the barrier trials this morning ahead of the Warwick Stakes meeting at Royal Randwick tomorrow.
McEvoy has been struggling to overcome a heavy bout of flu since he rode at the Shergar Cup meeting at Ascot last week.
He was forced to relinquish his rides at Canterbury midweek but was hoping to feel well enough to ride at this morning’s Rosehill barrier trials.
McEvoy is keen to prove he is well enough to take his full book of nine rides at Randwick tomorrow including Foxplay (Group 2 Warwick Stakes), Formality (Group 2 Silver Shadow Stakes), Calculated (Group 3 Up And Coming Stakes) and Omei Sword (Group 3 Show County Quality).
“I felt it coming on the day I flew out to England and I wasn’t feeling well over there – I was lucky to ride,’’ McEvoy said.
“I thought I was on the improve coming home but it has floored me again during the week. This flu hasn’t been nice but I am trying to get on top of it for (tomorrow).’’
McEvoy has ridden Foxplay twice for wins in the Group 1 Queen of the Turf Stakes and Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes but protecting that record is going to be difficult tomorrow against Winx in the Warwick Stakes.
“We are up against it but Foxplay is coming along nicely,’’ McEvoy said.