Trainer Tony McEvoy has South Australian Derby ambitions for last-start winner Secret Blaze who will continue on a path towards that Group One assignment when he contests the Galilee Series Final at Caulfield.
Saturday’s 2400m-race for three-year-olds is one of two Listed races on the Caulfield program along with the Bel Esprit Stakes (1100m) in which McEvoy will run last-start Valley winner Desert Lashes.
A Carbine Club Stakes placegetter last spring, Secret Blaze notched his first win of the season at Bendigo last start in a 2200m handicap against his own age.
That win came after a fifth to Global Exchange in the Group Two Alister Clark Stakes (2040m) at The Valley at his previous start, and McEvoy believes the gelding is tracking well towards next month’s SA Derby (2500m).
“He has been running really well without much luck,” McEvoy said.
“I thought he should have been placed in the Alister Clark and then he came out and won the other day, so he’s right on track.
“And I think mile and a half looks like it is what he needs. He’s progressing nicely.”
Luke Currie will ride Secret Blaze in Saturday’s Galilee Final which McEvoy plans as the three-year-old’s final lead-in to the SA Derby four weeks later.
Secret Blaze headlines the 16 nominations for the Galilee Final while the Bel Esprit Stakes has 18 entries with Malibu Style given 60kg while Bons Away has 59.5kg and Eduardo 59kg.
Winner of 10 of her 19 starts, Desert Lashes won a 955m at The Valley first-up on March 22 in her second start for the McEvoy stable and has 55.5kg in Saturday’s race.
“She has had two runs for me and they both should have been wins,” McEvoy said.
“She’s a really good sprinting mare and she’s improved nicely from her win at The Valley, which she needs to going up to Listed grade on Saturday.
“She will be well-placed in that race I think.”
