Trainer Tony McEvoy has called on 13-time Hong Kong premiership winner Douglas Whyte to partner Alpine Eagle in the Australian Guineas.
With jockeys already booked for Saturday’s 1600-metre race at Flemington, McEvoy began the search in Hong Kong and had no hesitation in snapping up Whyte after considering Zac Purton and Joao Moreira.
“I haven’t had any dealings with him previously but obviously I’ve watched him a lot,” McEvoy said.
“Because of the late decision and all the jockeys that I usually use in Melbourne were booked I was forced to look outside the square a little bit and luckily Douglas was available.”
McEvoy said Alpine Eagle had recovered well from last week’s Autumn Classic success.
Alpine Eagle staged a powerful finishing burst to score over Minnesinger and Firehouse Rock over 1800m.
McEvoy said the colt cantered around at Flemington on Tuesday morning and seemed bright.
He said if he continued in the same way then he would take his place in the race.
McEvoy isn’t concerned dropping back from 1800m to 1600m on Saturday and said the wide open spaces of Flemington would be a better fit for the son of High Chaparral.
“If the race was at Caulfield I wouldn’t be considering it,” McEvoy said.
“The big spaces of Flemington gives him his chance to get into his rhythm and on the turns at Flemington he will still be on the bit, whereas at Caulfield he would be off it.
“I’m hopeful the horse is up to it. I’ve got a lot of time for him and he showed on Saturday that he’s a talented horse.”
Alpine Eagle has won four of his five starts, three of which were in Adelaide, with his only defeat coming on a wet track at Hawkesbury.
