McEvoy treks nicely
KERRIN McEvoy has been the Group 1 king in Queensland and the star jockey believes he can snatch another major on Saturday after missing the winter carnival last year.
The Sydney hoop has enjoyed a golden run over an extended period in the Sunshine State, winning 12 Group 1s here in the past decade and 15 in total.
Included in those are two Doomben 10,000s (Epaulette in 2013 and Music Magnate in 2016) and two Stradbroke Handicaps (Srikandi in 2015 and Trekking in 2019).
On Saturday, the threetime Melbourne Cupwinning jockey reunites with his former Stradbroke winner Trekking after not partnering the Godolphin galloper in more than a year.
After missing last year’s Queensland winter carnival because of the COVID-19 pandemic, McEvoy believes he can win his third Doomben 10,000 when he steers $7.50 pop Trekking in the $1 million sprint.
“After sitting out of the
(winter) carnival last year it will be good to get back up there and ride Trekking in the main race, he’s a horse who I have had a bit of luck with,” said McEvoy, who has won six races on the star sprinter.
“Anyone who has been criticising him recently is being a bit hard on him, I reckon. He’s been running in
some really good races and it was only 12 months ago he won the Group 1 Goodwood in Adelaide.
“Since then he’s run well in The Everest and some other top-line races.
“I didn’t ride him first-up (when running fifth as the $2.05 favourite in the Group 2 Victory Stakes) but he looked
like he was travelling like the winner during the run. It just looked as though his run ended on that ground first-up.”
Trekking wasn’t dealt any favours at the barrier draw, coming up with barrier 10.
The Doomben track was in the heavy range on Thursday, certainly not in Trekking’s sweet spot, but it is expected
to improve to be in the soft range by race day.
McEvoy has seven rides at Doomben and his other key chances include Incredulous Dream for Ciaron Maher/ Dave Eustace in the 3YO Plate, Athiri for James Cummings in the Bright Shadow and Giannis for Chris Waller in the Spirit Of Boom Classic.