Smart four-year-old Evaporate (NZ) (Per Incanto) is nearing a return to racing after winning a jump-out at Flemington on Monday morning.
Prepared by Ben, Will and JD Hayes, Evaporate was a Group Two winner last season and coped admirably with a campaign that took in races in Melbourne, Auckland and Sydney.
Evaporate jumped out sporting earmuffs on Monday.
“We were very happy with him,” Ben Hayes said.
“He was in the same jump-out as Mr Brightside and having a harder hit-out. It was his second hit-out and we thought he went very well.
“I think he is a horse that has really improved between three and four.
“Probably his one little quirk is that he does over-race in races, so we’re going to strongly consider leaving the earmuffs on for his first-up run in the P.B. Lawrence.
“Michael Dee came back and gave a really good report, loved the way he kicked and showed a good turn of foot. We think he’s in for a good campaign.”
The Gr.2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m) is at Caulfield on Saturday week.
“If he was able to run well in the P.B. Lawrence, we’d have to consider the Memsie (Gr.1, 1400m),” Hayes said.
The A$10 Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill on November 1 for four-year-olds is the main aim for Evaporate for the campaign.
“I think he is a great race for him and he has got the prizemoney to run in it, so why not,” Hayes said.
“We think he is one of our most progressive horses in the yard and last preparation if you go back and watch every run, he had excuses in a lot of them. He has not done too much wrong and has been very competitive and he has run in some of the best races.
“He is a year older now, he is very hardened, he has travelled a lot and he enjoys being in work, so he is a horse that we are really excited to see how he goes.”
The Hayes stable have enjoyed a stellar run with New Zealand imports, with Marble Arch (NZ) (Per Incanto), a Group Two winning daughter of Per Incanto finishing third in her jumpout with a likely first-up assignment in the Gr.3 Cockram Stakes (1200m).
“I loved the way she trialled,” Hayes said.
“She was very enthusiastic, a little bit fresh and we just kept her nice and happy to the line. She’ll trial again in probably two to three weeks’ time.”
Meanwhile, Group One winning stablemate War Machine (NZ) (Harry Angel) is back in work after a break in Queensland following his Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) triumph.
“He looks fantastic. He will most likely look to kick off in the Manikato Stakes (Gr.1, 1200m) on September 26 first-up and then we are hoping he gets snapped up for a slot in the Everest (A$20 million, Gr.1, 1200m) but if not he will run in the Sydney Stakes (A$2 million, Gr.3, 1200m),” Hayes said.
“The CF Orr (Gr.1, 1400m) has been moved to the end of the Melbourne Spring Carnival (November 15), so we will probably head to that as well.”
