Godolphin three-year-olds have been at the head of affairs in the Group 1 contests this season and Tony and Calvin Mcevoy are hoping it’s their turn at Flemington Saturday.
The McEvoy father-and-son team will saddle up Options in the Victoria Derby (2500m) on Saturday, looking to win their second feature of the spring.
Half Yours provided the McEvoy’s with a Caulfield Cup success on October 18 and a win by Options would be the perfect after party following that success, although it could be topped next Tuesday when Half Yours lines up in the Melbourne Cup (3200m).
Options did all his early work with James Cummings before announcing he was leaving Godolphin to take up a training post in Hong Kong next year.
The large Godolphin team was dispersed to various trainers.
Group 1 winners Beiwacht and Attica were transferred to Chris Waller and Joe Pride respectively while Caulfield Guineas placegetter and Derby favourite Observer landed in the care Ciaron Maher as did The Everest placegetter Tempted.
Options started his career with a maiden win at Echuca soon after joining the McEvoy’s before winning again at Bendigo.
The colt then finished third in the Victoria Derby Preview (1800m) at Flemington on September 21 then scored over the same course and trip in the Super Impose Stakes on October 4.
Options had been expected to pose the stiffest opposition to Observer in last week’s Vase (2040m) at Moonee Valley, but found plenty of traffic in finishing fifth, 3-¾ lengths from the winner.
Calvin McEvoy said Options had come out of Saturday’s run in great order and the colt had always been programmed towards the Derby.
“We wanted to run on Saturday, and we wanted a bit more luck, but we left the racecourse knowing the big target was this weekend,” McEvoy said.
“He didn’t get a lot of luck. They went very slow, but he felt good to Harry (Coffey) late.
“He did some work this morning and he has never come through a race better.
“He’ll be peaking on Saturday, and we think he will run the trip as well.”
The Derby has attracted 24 entries with Observer the $1.90 favourite in pre-post betting with Options on the third line at $10.
The final field with barriers will be announced on Wednesday.
