Kerrin McEvoy makes his return from injury in Sydney on Saturday but will also be keeping a close eye on what’s happening in the feature races in Brisbane.
McEvoy has five rides at the Randwick meeting while in Brisbane his likely Stradbroke Handicap and Queensland Derby mounts will be in action.
Darley’s stable rider suffered two broken ribs when he fell on Tinseltown in the Group One Sydney Cup (3200m) last month.
He has spent the past week riding trackwork at Warwick Farm to prepare for his race return and hopes to hit the ground running at Randwick before turning his attention to the Queensland carnival.
“I have been keeping an eye on the runners (in Queensland) since I’ve been out, there’s been plenty to watch and I’ll be doing the same (on Saturday),” McEvoy said.
“And all being well I’ll be riding Beaded in the Stradbroke and possibly Peck in the Derby.”
Last year McEvoy used the Melbourne Cup carnival as his motivation to return from a back injury and this time it has been the rides that await in Queensland that have been the driving force.
“It’s always good to look at that to give you motivation,” he said.
“There’s Darley horses running every week and winning really well, and I want to be out there and carrying those colours to victory for the team.
“I’ve had a month off, the ribs have healed up well so I’m just hopeful that I can get the eye in and come back in winning form this weekend.”
Sheikh Mohammed’s Darley team has had remarkable success this season in the two-year-old ranks, with McEvoy in the saddle for Group One wins on Sepoy in the Blue Diamond and Golden Slipper and Helmet in the Sires’ Produce and Champagne Stakes.
McEvoy believes it’s another two-year-old in Abstract who could help him return a winner in his first ride back on Saturday.
Abstract resumes in the PKF Handicap (1200m) after stringing together two wins in January prior to a spell.
She is the $3.60 second favourite for the event.
“I reckon my first ride back (is my best),” McEvoy said.
“She gave me a nice feel when she won at Randwick defeating Godspeed. It’s probably going to be different sort of ground on Saturday to what it was that day but she’s a nice Domesday filly.
“It’s a good race for this time of year but she’s got to be a chance.”
Three-year-old Scarf is also a leading contender in the Blackwoods Handicap (1200m) to round out the day.
Scarf hasn’t been seen since finishing fourth in the Darby Munro Stakes (1200m) on March 26.
“His best trip might be a bit further in this sort of grade but he worked well during the week and he’s in with a chance for sure,” McEvoy said.
AAP TURF
