McEvoy thinks big for talented pair
TONY McEvoy knows tomorrow’s Doomben 10,000 is likely to be a touch slick for Manuel and Dollar For Dollar, but he expects the pair to turn in performances that confirm them as serious contenders when the Group 1 action switches to Eagle Farm.
“Clearly it’s a tough race. These Group 1s are always very competitive,” the trainer said. “But my pair are talented horses and they will run super (over the carnival).”
Manuel is already a Group 1 winner this autumn, claiming the Orr Stakes, and McEvoy believes he possibly could have been a dual toplevel winner had things gone differently in the Futurity.
“The rides are so important (on Manuel),” McEvoy said. “You cannot breathe on him out of the gates. If he jumps great, you have to control and if he doesn’t jump, you’ve got to sit.
“If he misses the kick and the jockey gives him a squeeze, then it’s all over.
“That’s what happened in the All Aged and for him to only be beaten 1.2 lengths was an incredible performance.”
McEvoy considers the 1300m Kingsford Smith Cup an ideal race for Manuel, a $26 chance with Ladbrokes tomorrow, and then the Stradbroke after that.
Dollar For Dollar ($41) was narrowly beaten at Group 1 handicap level over 1400m in the spring and his trainer considers the Stradbroke a suitable target based on that formline.
“Dollar For Dollar will be at his best in the Stradbroke and he just has to run well in these couple of lead-ups to justify going there,” he said.
“That program you have up there of the 10,000 into the Kingsford Smith into the Straddy is a cracking little program.
“I’m just lucky enough to have these two horses that I’m hoping will be good enough.”
McEvoy could have as many as eight runners at the Queensland carnival, pending what happens in Adelaide over the next fortnight.
One potential J.J. Atkins contender is Balaabel, a Not A Single Doubt filly who ran second on debut in Listed grade at Morphettville last week.
“She had Blue Diamond/ Golden Slipper talent, but every time I went to ask her to go to the next stage, she wasn’t ready and we had to wait,” McEvoy said. “She will run in the Group 3 National Stakes on May 18 in Adelaide and then I will consider bringing her for the J.J. Atkins.”
DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR WILL BE AT HIS BEST IN THE STRADBROKE TONY MCEVOY