The Tony and Calvin Mcevoy stable is leaving nothing to chance as they chase Group 1 glory in the Blue Diamond Stakes with English Riviera.
The two-year-old made the trip from Ballarat to Caulfield on Tuesday morning to get another look at the track ahead of Melbourne’s premier juvenile race on Saturday.
English Riviera has been placed at both outings to date, firstly behind Lofty Strike at Flemington last month before Revolutionary Miss overrun her and Miss Roseiano at Caulfield on February 12.
Tony McEvoy said English Riviera was brought undone by going too quickly early in the race and expects the filly to be able to take a sit on Saturday.
John Allen replaces Mark Zahra and English Riviera jumps from barrier four following Tuesday’s draw.
“She’s had a run here, but I thought another trip down the highway and another gallop would be good for her,” McEvoy said.
“She went far too hard in the Prelude, so we won’t be doing that in the Blue Diamond.
“They ran from the 1000 metres to the 600, something like 20.6 seconds and that is not conducive to finishing your race off, so John will ride her sensibly.
“The two fillies that ran second and third that day, to do that at the start and be there at the end, that was incredible.”
McEvoy holds no fears about English Riviera running out a strong 1200m and will add a tongue tie to the crossover noseband the filly already wears.
A start in the Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill on March 19 has not been ruled out for English Riviera, depending on how she runs on Saturday.
Blue Diamond”The way she is doing in the stable and the way she is training on, she could have a bit more to offer,” McEvoy said.
“We’ll get through this race before we make up our mind. It’s three weeks between the two races, so there is time to get there.”
