Aspect to kick off spring at Caulfield
The in-form Tony McEvoy stable is set to unveil another quality three-year-old in the Vain Stakes at Caulfield.
Aspect starts his spring campaign on Saturday and could join stablemates Azazel and Royal Symphony in the Group One Caulfield Guineas.
The gelding has had five starts including a debut win in the Maribyrnong Plate in the spring and a close second in the VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes in March.
Aspect finished sixth in a hot Cranbourne trial last week that featured Lindsay Park’s star fillies Catchy, Formality and Tulip.
McEvoy’s Melbourne foreman Michael Shepherdson said Aspect was not at home on the heavy track but gained benefit from the hit-out.
He said he expected Saturday’s 1100m-race would be too short but Aspect should be strong at the finish.
“It’s a bit short of his best but it’s a nice race to ride him patiently and then build through his gears,” Shepherdson said.
“Normally we would give him a couple of trials going into his first-up run but he’s only had the one and he’ll go into the race fresh.”
Shepherdson expects Aspect to extend to longer distances than Azazel and Royal Symphony and the Caulfield Classic (2000m) a week after the Guineas was another option.
“If he can settle in his races he might get a little bit further than the other guys so the Caulfield Classic could be a possibility,” Shepherdson said.
“He’s a big, stretchy horse that was gelded after his last prep.”
The unbeaten Royal Symphony is scheduled to run next month while Azazel, a winner first-up at Flemington on August 5, is heading towards the McKenzie Stakes at Moonee Valley on August 26.
Saturday’s Vain Stakes for colts and geldings has attracted 20 entries with McEvoy also nominating unraced colt A Thousand Degrees.
The stable also has talented filly Roomooz nominated to make her season return in Saturday’s Group Three Quezette Stakes for fillies.