Trio guns for Guineas
Veight eyeing dashing rivals for Flemington blockbuster
Group 1 trainer Tony McEvoy has Veight primed for an Australian Guineas blockbuster against Riff Rocket and King Colorado.
The big three colts face off on Saturday at Flemington over 1600m.
Victorian Derby winner Riff Rocket stamped claims on another big Flemington feature with a most emphatic CS Hayes Stakes triumph last start, surging past King Colorado.
King Colorado, a Group 1 JJ Atkins winner in Queensland, is set to peak third-up after back-to-back seconds in the Manfred and CS Hayes Stakes.
Veight contested the Group 1 CF Orr Stakes (1400m) last start and finished a gallant fourth behind Mr Brightside, Pride Of Jenni and Buffalo River.
Mr Brightside, “the best of the best at the moment”, franked the form winning the Group 1 Futurity Stakes last Saturday, while Buffalo River placed third.
“He (Veight) was super, had a beautiful run (in the CF Orr), it was a beautiful watch, Damian (Lane) gave him a beautiful trip and those hard, tough horses,” McEvoy said.
“Buffalo River, the mare (Pride Of Jenni) and the best of the best at the moment (Mr Brightside) were just a length too good for him, but as a three-year-old was brave.”
Veight is rated a $6 third favourite with TAB behind Riff Rocket ($2.80) and King Colorado ($5).
The three-year-old colt has yet to win beyond 1400m – VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes last year at Flemington – but finished runner-up in the Caulfield Guineas (1600m) last spring.
Veight loomed ominously in the Caulfield Guineas but lugged out late under pressure.
He won the Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) at The Valley first up before the CF Orr.
“He’s really well, we have been pretty tough on him since the run the other day because he’s going to a mile,”
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McEvoy said. “We keep saying he doesn’t run a mile but he did run second in the Caulfield Guineas so it wasn’t too bad, but he’s going to be ready for this big contest and he’s training on beautifully.
“I won the Australian Guineas with Hey Doc (2017), who wasn’t a miler (either), if they’re the best three-yearold, which he’s right up there with those two (Riff Rocket and King Colorado).
“They’re pretty good colts, he’ll be well placed (against them) and if he draws (well) he could hold a good spot, around Flemington, he’s a real Guineas horse.”
Veight, whose sire Grunt won the 2018 Australian Guineas, has strengthened up since the spring. “We had a lot of pressure on him and he was making a few mistakes in the end,” McEvoy said.
“He’s a much happier horse now, a bit more mature, he looks amazing, I’m training him hard and he’s loving it.
“I think he’s arrived as a horse, I’m really excited about him.”
Meanwhile, McEvoy, who trains in partnership with son Calvin, was pleased with their Blue Diamond runners Rue De Royale (10th) and Dublin Down (12th).
“(Rue De Royale) is a star, the barrier killed us,” McEvoy lamented.
“Is he a Slipper horse or do we go to the Sires? I think he’s more of a Sires’ horse.”