An out-of-season appearance in Melbourne by Kerrin McEvoy is set to produce results both on and off the track, starting at Sandown on Wednesday.
McEvoy has moved to a summer residence mainly to await the birth of a third child for him and wife Cathy.
But thanks to the wide-ranging presence of Sheikh Mohammed al Maktoum’s Darley team, McEvoy can spend the time profitably at the track assessing the stable’s autumn prospects.
One of those may well be the two-year-old filly Isolation who runs in Dash For Cash (900m) at Sandown.
Isolation is the only runner in the field of eight with any race experience – and it’s all good.
Having chased the talented Clevadude at Cranbourne at her first start, Isolation scored impressively in city class at Mornington on New Years Day at her only other run.
“They tell me she looked pretty good last start, so I’m looking forward to getting on her,” McEvoy said.
“You never know with the unraced ones but Clevadude’s obviously a good horse and she’s made the form look alright.”
McEvoy also rides Komodo for Darley in the eighth heat of the Summer Championship (1300m).
Komodo resumes from a winter campaign that was mostly on wet tracks, but he is a first-up winner last time over 1300m on a good track at Scone in May.
The McEvoys baby is due “any time in the next 10 days” and the expectant father is likely to ride in Melbourne every Saturday until the Blue Diamond Stakes is run on February 23.
