It has been a winter of content for Kerrin McEvoy who will try to continue his late-season form surge with a strong book of Rosehill rides on Saturday.
Among them is Winter Cup runner Kapour for Ciaron Maher, the trainer McEvoy teamed with to win two Group One races during the Brisbane carnival.
Maher first called on McEvoy to ride Srikandi in the Stradbroke Handicap when Damian Browne couldn’t make her weight and the jockey has gained the mount on Kapour in similar circumstances.
“I only picked it (the ride) up this morning. I was going to ride one for Lee Freedman but it didn’t accept,” McEvoy said.
“When he (Maher) saw there weren’t many entries he whacked it in as a late nom.”
McEvoy will take a short break after Saturday’s meeting for a family holiday before preparing for the Shergar Cup at Royal Ascot in August.
The jockey rode feature race winners at the famous course during his time with Godolphin and has been named captain of the Rest Of The World team for the annual competition which involves leading international riders.
Both Kapour and the Chris Waller-trained Our Voodoo Prince are dual acceptors for the Winter Cup and a 2500m race at Flemington.
The Waller stable has confirmed Our Voodoo Prince as a Sydney runner, joining stablemates Danchai and Gosh in the Listed race.
If Kapour makes the trip to Sydney he will strike a wet track which he has proven to his liking in France.
While Kapour will be chasing the biggest prize money, the Gai Waterhouse-trained Cafe Society promises to be McEvoy’s most important ride.
Placed behind Contributer at last year’s Royal Ascot carnival, the horse will use Saturday’s Perfection Fresh Handicap as a stepping stone towards bigger spring targets.
McEvoy has ridden him in two barrier trials and expects him to be in the finish at his Tulloch Lodge debut.
The jockey’s remaining six rides include the Gerald Ryan-trained Aerobar in the Quilton Sprint and the consistent Maurus for David Vandyke in the Schweppes Handicap.
“Maurus is back in trip but he’s had three weeks to freshen up and David said he was happy with this horse’s work on Tuesday morning,” McEvoy said.
