The Tony and Calvin McEvoy stable is looking forward to a fresh Veight tackling a straight race at Flemington on the opening day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
Having finished second to Griff in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) on October 14, Veight has been freshened for a tilt at the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) on Saturday.
Veight had a look at the Flemington straight track he will race on last Friday in an 800m jump-out.
Calvin McEvoy said Veight wore blinkers in the jump-out in which he was ridden by Jamie Kah.
Veight has proven a little wayward in his last couple of starts, but McEvoy said the colt strode out truly where he was also fitted with a Tom Thumb bit.
“He went down the straight and was really good,” McEvoy said.
“We wanted to see him go straight, and he did. He went beautifully straight.
“We weren’t there to do much. No-one in that jump-out really was and hence the slower time than the other heat.
“The horse is in fantastic order, and we feel he has freshened up beautifully and Jamie got a lot of confidence out of the jump-out and she thinks he’s going beautifully.”
Kah takes over from Damian Lane who rode the colt in the Caulfield Guineas and had won the Group 3 McNeil Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield two starts earlier.
“Damian Lane is booked to go to Sydney, so we had to find a replacement and we felt the way Jamie rides, she’s got great hands, she will suit him as he’s a bit quirky,” McEvoy said.
The McEvoy father-and-son training team felt Veight did not quite see out the 1600m of the Caulfield Guineas but believe in the autumn the trip won’t pose a problem.
But for the present they have freshened him for a tilt at the Group 1 stallion making race.
“We trained him up strong for the Guineas, but he’s freshened up well,” McEvoy said.
“He’s had two runs at 1200 metres, won by six lengths and won a Group 3, so there is every chance that he is a good sprinter.”
