Robbie Griffiths will weigh up whether two-year-old Evolutionist makes his city debut at Caulfield or bids to get a maiden win on the board in the country.
Evolutionist made an encouraging debut at Bendigo last Wednesday, finishing a close second to Takemehomemister in an 1100m 2YO Handicap, and is an acceptor for Saturday’s Schweppes Handicap (1200m) at Caulfield.
Griffiths also plans to accept on Thursday for a two-year-old maiden at Sale on Sunday before deciding which way to go.
“If he’s lucky enough to get a run both days we’ll compare the pair because he’s drawn a bit awkwardly on Saturday,” Griffiths said.
“He’s got barrier eight on Saturday but his run at Bendigo was very good and the horse that beat him has got form around Clinton McDonald’s horse, Pure Emotion.
“So he’s in the mix on Saturday.
“He’s a really nice horse and he finished off really well at Bendigo. So I think wherever he runs, whether it’s Caulfield or Sale, he’ll give it a good shot.”
Griffiths said he had always had a healthy opinion of Evolutionist who was bred by his owner Craig Pearce, and believes he has a good career ahead of him.
The two-year-old was earmarked for the Blue Diamond lead-ups earlier in the season but that didn’t eventuate as the youngster needed more time.
“We kept him aside as a young horse and we thought he was one of our better ones for the Blue Diamond Preludes but he went shin sore,” Griffiths said.
“Then he turned a bit naughty as a colt, so he was gelded and he’s ended up racing now.
“He’s a horse we’ve always thought plenty of and he didn’t let us down at Bendigo. He ran super.
“He probably should have won, he just got pushed out on the corner.”
The Mick Price-trained Lone Eagle is the early $3.80 favourite for Saturday’s Caulfield race which has a field of 11.
Evolutionist is at $14.
