Queensland well worth the Veight
The 2024 George Ryder Stakes (1,500m) winner is set to resume in the A$1.5 million (S$1.15 million) Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (1,200m) on May 17, and McEvoy, who trains in partnership with his son Calvin, says the Grunt four-year-old seems more relaxed as a gelding.
"It wasn't an ideal decision to have to make, but we thought it was in the best interest of the horse," said McEvoy from Brisbane. "He seems very good, and he's acting right, which is great."
A three-run Spring campaign struggled to get off the ground for Veight - pronounced as "vee-eight", named after the V8 engine - who finished 19th of 20 in the A$10 million Golden Eagle (1,500m) before a spell, with McEvoy admitting nothing went to plan.
"It was a combination of things, really. He was obviously getting a little bit fussy in his thinking, and he drew some bad barriers," said the multiple Group 1 winning-trainer.
"There were a few different factors, but we thought he'd be a better racehorse as a gelding."
McEvoy has a traditional Brisbane campaign mapped out for Veight who has been in Brisbane for 12 days, with the Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup (1,300m) on May 31 and Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1,400m) on June 14, both run at Eagle Farm, his likely progression.
The Ballarat-based trainer is hesitant about the gelding's chances of chalking up a sixth victory on Saturday, especially if the ground is wet, but was pleased with the horse drawing barrier No. 9 in the field of 16, giving first-time partner Andrew Mallyon options.
"Middle of the pack, that should allow Andrew to ride him where he's comfortable," said McEvoy.
"He's not as forward as I would hope, but the run will improve him.
"He's a very good horse, so he'll match it with them, provided he gets conditions to suit, but if the ground's wet, he'll struggle."
Veight is a 25-1 chance in the market headed by 11-4 favourite Overpass, who finished second in the 2023 Doomben 10,000. The Bjorn Baker-trained sprinter, who recently failed to land a third consecutive The Quokka in Perth, has drawn barrier No. 10.
Champion hoop James McDonald has been booked for 4-1 second-elect, the Annabel & Rob Archibald-trained Sunshine In Paris, who has once again drawn wide in barrier No. 14.
Another top jockey, Craig Williams, who has won the past two Doomben 10,000's aboard Bella Nipotina and Giga Kick, has been booked to replace the suspended Blake Shinn aboard 9-2 chance Schwarz for trainers John O'Shea and Tom Charlton.
McEvoy has yet to add his name to the winning roster of the 92-year-old feature, which includes notable graduates such as globetrotter Takeover Target (winner of the King's Stand at Ascot in 2006 and KrisFlyer Sprint at Kranji in 2008), two-time winner Apache Cat (2008 and 2009) and 2022 The Everest winner Giga Kick (2023), among others.
Bella Nipotina also did the Doomben 10,000-The Everest double, but in the reverse order. Last year, Ciaron Maher's just-retired mighty mare beat I Wish I Win in a dramatic showdown, propelling her onto the world stage before she went on to take the world's richest turf race at A$20 million, five months later.
The Doomben 10,000 is part of the rich Brisbane Winter Carnival or the Queensland Racing Carnival, which kicked off on May 3 with the Group 2 Queensland Guineas (1,600m) won by Depth Of Character for the Archibalds and ridden by an old Kranji acquaintance, the rejuvenated Noel Callow.
Beyond the Doomben 10,000, the day also boasts the A$250,000 Group 3 Rough Habit Plate (2,000m), a lead-up race to the A$1 million Group 1 Queensland Derby (2,400m) on May 31.
The juveniles will also get to fight it out in the A$300,000 Group 2 Spirit Of Boom Classic (1,200m), aiming to make their mark ahead of the highly anticipated A$1 million Group 1 JJ Atkins (1,600m) on June 14. SKY RACING WORLD
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