Kerrin McEvoy is gearing up for Sepoy’s highly-anticipated return this weekend and declared dual Group One-winning stablemate Helmet was also on target for his spring objectives after a pleasing barrier trial on Thursday.
Helmet, winner of the Sires’ Produce Stakes and Champagne Stakes, made his first public appearance of the new season when working home from back in the field in a star-studded 800m heat at Warwick Farm.
The three-year-old finished fourth in the heat won by Group One winner Secret Admirer and gave McEvoy all the indications he was progressing the right way.
“He’s on target,” McEvoy said.
“It was a good trial. I rode him back in the field a bit today and kicked him along the last two furlongs (400m) and he gave me a good feel.
“It was a steadily-run trial and they all seemed to hit the line.
“He’s a bigger and stronger horse and I’m looking forward to seeing him back at the races in a couple of weeks.”
Trainer Peter Snowden will kick-off Helmet’s campaign in the Group Three Run To The Rose (1200m) on August 27 when unbeaten colt Smart Missile awaits as opposition.
Helmet will progress to the Group One Golden Rose (1400m) second-up on September 10.
McEvoy said Helmet had developed from his juvenile season which netted four wins from five starts.
“He was always pretty natural but he’s got thicker and stronger and he might improve further,” the jockey said.
“He’s still untapped trip-wise and as we saw as a two-year-old he was a very raw talent.”
McEvoy heads to Melbourne on Saturday to ride Sepoy first-up in the Vain Stakes (1100m).
He partnered the Golden Slipper and Blue Diamond winner in a pleasing gallop on Tuesday morning.
“I’m really looking forward to getting down there to ride him,” he said.
“It would be nice if there was not too much rain.”
The two feature trials at Warwick Farm were taken out by Group One winners from trainer Grahame Begg’s Randwick team.
Ilovethiscity scored by 2-1/4 lengths over Red Tracer in heat one over 1000m and Secret Admirer got home a short half-head in front of Streama in the second heat over 800m with Decision Time third.
“Both (Ilovethiscity and Secret Admirer) trialled well,” jockey Brenton Avdulla said.
Secret Admirer and Ilovethiscity are set to kick-off their spring campaigns at the Warwick Farm meeting on Saturday week.
AAP TURF
