Thursday, 19 July 2012: Tony McEvoy will enter unchartered territory with Prince Of Capers and Harmonic when the pair each back up at Flemington this Saturday following bold efforts last weekend.
 | Tony McEvoy
Photo by Racing and Sports | |
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Prince Of Capers and Harmonic sit high in markets for their respective events with Tony McEvoy at this stage happy to see them back up at Flemington this Saturday after strong runs at Caulfield last weekend.
“If I am happy with them when I get back to Melbourne they will take their place,” McEvoy said.
Prince Of Capers 
will be looking to claim a third straight success when he contests the Fujitsu Air Conditioning Handicap (1600m).
“He can definitely make it three in a row,” McEvoy said.
“He is probably unlucky not to have five wins in a row.
“He is very honest and game, he is drawn beautifully again.”
It will be the first time Prince Of Capers has backed up quickly since under the care of McEvoy who generally spaces the geldings starts out.
“Backing up in seven days is a first for me so I'm not sure about that which is all,” McEvoy said.
“He tries so hard in each race he doesn't leave much in the tank and that is why I've always elected to space his runs. The quick back up is new territory and I'm looking forward to seeing how that works.”
The Arena gelding backs up seven days after what was arguably a career best effort when winning the Sportingbet Handicap (1400m) at Caulfield.
It was a slender victory for Prince Of Capers who saluted in a photo narrowly over the well fancied
Luckyi'mbarefoot and
Giresun .
“We were keen on him,” McEvoy said.
“We thought he would run really well.
“Luke [Nolen] gave him a box seat run and I always knew he would fight it out. I must say there was a stage down the straight where I thought we were going to run second but then his courage kicked in and he was fantastic.
“He has eaten well and he is bright. I get back to Melbourne on Friday and if I'm happy with him he'll run, if I'm not he of course won't.”
Currently a $9.50 chance with TAB Sportsbet Fixed Odds,
Harmonic backs up after catching the eye when second behind
Slim Henry in the Mallileu 3YO Handicap (1400m).
“It was a huge run,” McEvoy said.
“He got too far back. The barrier probably beat him. Nothing was making that much ground out wide where he had to come, at the end of the day it wasn't the best part of the track.
“He did an enormous job with a big weight, giving them a start and a tonne of ground but couldn't quite get there.
“1700m at Flemington on that big track will suit him perfectly. A seven day back up is also new territory for him but I'm really pleased with the horse.”
McEvoy's third runner for the day is
Sky Raider who ventures to Melbourne for the first time where he'll contest the Stirling Mortlock Handicap (2000m).
It will be a step up in class for the Reset gelding who last start was a comfortably held third at Morphettville.
The leading South Australian trainer is confident the four-year-old is capable of better and can showcase that ability on Saturday.
“He just missed the boat a bit last start,” McEvoy said.
“When the race took shape my boy was having a snooze and lost a lot of ground but he did make it up in the straight.
“I've been keen to get him to Melbourne for a long time to see if he is up to that class and we'll get our chance to find out on Saturday.
“Taking on a small field is also perfect.”
Leading SA jockey Matthew Neilson will partner each of the McEvoy trio on Saturday after being unlucky to miss the rides aboard both Prince Of Capers and Harmonic last weekend.
“I am pleased to have him there this week,” McEvoy said.
“I was hoping Matthew would come across and ride them, he knows the horses really well.
The reason he didn't ride them last week, on all the figures we did it looked like Prince Of Capers was going to get 54kg which Matthew struggles to ride.
“It would have been wasting his time to come across for one ride so that is when I booked Luke Nolen. As it worked out the weights went up as there was no natural topweight and Matthew could have ridden them.”
At home, the McEvoy stable will saddle up just the one runner when
Little Critter contests in the Spring Racing At Morphettville Handicap (1200m).
Second last start, the Court Command gelding was no match for the winner on that occasion when second behind
Splash Of Moet however looks to face an easier assignment on paper this Saturday.
“He was super the other day,” McEvoy said.
“He was four wide facing the breeze having a very tough run and really fought on strongly to run second behind quite a star in Splash Of Moet who looks above average.
“He is well, has held his form nicely at home and there'll be no Splash Of Moet this week so he gets his chance to win.”
