Last-start stakes winner Cool Passion will be on trial for the Group One Myer Classic when she backs up in the Tristarc Stakes at Caulfield.
The former Perth sprinter notched her first stakes win in last Saturday’s Group Three Northwood Plume Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield, her third start since joining the Tony McEvoy stable.
Cool Passion has won nine of her 18 starts but on Saturday will be stretched beyond 1200m for the first time since running second in a 1400m Bunbury maiden on debut in December 2015.
McEvoy has been impressed by Cool Passion since the mare joined his stable and believes Saturday’s Group Two Tristarc is the right opportunity to test the six-year-old at 1400m.
“She’s had three runs back and I thought this was the time to try her,” McEvoy said.
“If she ran out a strong 1400 on Saturday you could then consider the Myer Classic, the big race for fillies and mares over a mile at Flemington.
“Saturday’s race will tell us a lot about her and if I’m not happy with her at 1400 we can go back to 1200.”
The Group One Myer Classic (1600m) is two weeks after Saturday.
McEvoy said Cool Passion was bright and well after Saturday’s win.
“She’s loving her role at the moment,” he said.
The Tristarc has a full field of 16 plus two emergencies with Group One winners Foxplay and Silent Sedition sharing early favouritism at $5.
Foxplay has barrier four while Silent Sedition has the widest gate.
Cool Passion has barrier eight and is at $17.
