Consistent sprinter Shiraz has arrived at Tony McEvoy’s NSW base at Hawkesbury to continue his preparation for a return to racing.
McEvoy recently acquired boxes at Randwick in Sydney but sent Shiraz to his provincial barn after the sprinter did his early work at the trainer’s property at Angaston in South Australia.
“He’s owned in Dubbo and Angaston is too far away,” McEvoy said.
“The owners like to see him when they go to Sydney, so I’ve switched him to Hawkesbury to continue his preparation.”
McEvoy is reluctant to race Shiraz on firm tracks and will structure Shiraz’s campaign around the weather.
“He hasn’t had a gallop yet and I’ll just be guided by how he’s going,” McEvoy said.
“I’ll be more guided by the weather. He’ll only run where the rain is.”
Shiraz won four races on rain-affected tracks last preparation including two at Group Three level.
McEvoy has also been granted permanent stables at Flemington but says he will be spending more time at Angaston.
“The Angaston property is like my institute of sport and I can then ship them out to run in Melbourne or Sydney,” he said.
McEvoy said two-year-old filly Concealer, a debut winner at Flemington during the spring, could be Sydney bound for the $250,000 Inglis Classic at Randwick on February 6.
“She’s a Group Three winner, so she may head up for the Inglis Classic,” McEvoy said.
“Nothing’s set in concrete yet and if she doesn’t go there she will go to the Blue Diamond Prelude and then straight into the Blue Diamond.
“Either way, she’ll have one run into the Blue Diamond.”
The $1.5 million Blue Diamond is on February 27.
Alpine Eagle is close to having his work stepped up with McEvoy eyeing a late Sydney autumn run or a winter campaign in Brisbane.
“He’s beautiful,” McEvoy said.
“I’ve been watching him up in the Barossa.
“He’s still cantering and has another week or so before we’ll build him up to even time.”
