Trainer Robbie Laing is hoping a post-autumn carnival campaign for Evil Cry can provide a launching pad to the spring for the rising three-year-old.
Evil Cry, who was bought for $300,000 as a yearling, finished among the tailenders on debut in the Inglis Premier (1200m) at Caulfield in February with Laing saying the two-year-old jarred up.
“He had shown plenty before that race then we just tipped him out,” Laing said.
Evil Cry won a barrier trial at Cranbourne recently and makes his return in Saturday’s Chef’s Hat Plate (1100m) at Caulfield.
Laing said he has brought the colt back in search of some softer ground.
Evil Cry is a colt from the final crop of the late sire Street Cry and Laing is also hoping he could measure up to spring standard.
“He’ll probably have a run or two then a little bit of a breather and he could be a Caulfield Guineas horse,” Laing said.
“He’s a big, powerful brute and has plenty of ability.”
Tom Sadler takes the ride on Saturday in a field of 10 which includes six unraced juveniles.
The trainer has four horses entered for Saturday’s meeting including three-year-old colt Reata in the Clanbrooke Racing Handicap (1200m) who will be making his second race appearance after filling the minor placing in a Cranbourne 1000m maiden on heavy ground late last month.
The start of that race was delayed after three horses broke through the barriers and Laing said while Reata wasn’t involved, he was slow to jump and was green in the straight before finishing well.
Reata has been installed an outsider in Saturday’s race but Laing feels he is a horse of promise over a bit further.
“The 1200 metres in city company might find him out but it would be a lovely stepping stone to a mile race,” he said.
“So Si Bon always showed he was the best of the four So You Thinks I had and he was right there a length behind him.
“He trialled a couple of times leading into the spring and developed a splint and we had no alternative but to turn him out.
“He’ll run a good race on Saturday. He’ll be hitting the line hard, it just might be a furlong short for him.”
