Tony McEvoy will start two 2YO's in Saturday's Clockwise Classic
Tony McEvoy has reduced the number of two-year-olds he will start at Ballarat to two.
The trainer will rely on Despatch and Nistaan in Saturday’s Magic Millions 2YO Clockwise Classic (1000m).
Three dates were set aside for two-year-olds to trial in preparation for the race, run in the right handed direction at Saturday’s Ballarat Cup meeting.
In total McEvoy trialled six two-year-olds and said Despatch and Nistaan were the two to handle the Ballarat circuit the best.
“It’s a bit of a tricky turn,” McEvoy said.
“They come around the turn and see the mounting yard and a lot of them don’t handle it.”
Despatch and Nistaan finished one-two in their jump-out at Ballarat last Friday, the last of the trials in the lead-up to Saturday’s race.
If all goes to plan for the pair they’ will head to the $2 million Magic Millions Two-Year-Old Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast in early January.
“I thought they were the two from the six that I trialled up at Ballarat that look best suited to this race,” McEvoy said.
“This pair are ready to go to the races and if they can pick up some prize money it will help them get into that race in Queensland.
“It they go well then they can saunter up to Queensland and get ready for the Magic Millions.
“The others, I just thought they would be better suited in other races so they’ll head to something else on their way to the Magic Millions.”
Despatch, by Written Tycoon from Zoccoletta, was a $195,000 yearling at the Magic Millions yearling sale in Adelaide earlier this year.
The colt won an official barrier trial at Morphettville last month before the jump-out at Ballarat.
Nistaan, by Nicconi from Fustaan, was bought at the Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale for $150,000 and has not had an official trial.
