Kerrin McEvoy has had a good laugh at the way punters and bookmakers have continued to underestimate Bangkok Hottie.
asserted
punters → have → Hottie
Getting the ride on Headwall to continue the jockey’s record-breaking run in the $20 million Everest has given him even more reason to smile.
asserted
Getting → get → reason
McEvoy, who has had feature race wins the past four Saturdays in Sydney, rides both this Saturday at Randwick as part of a strong book that also includes Epsom Handicap fancy Attica.
asserted
that → have → Attica
Those chances and others on the day have McEvoy in an excellent position to stretch his impressive first two months of the season.
asserted
McEvoy → have → season
“It’s been all right,” McEvoy said.
asserted
McEvoy → say → ?
“My son, Jake, reminded me, he said, ‘Dad, you’ve had only one Saturday this new season without a winner’.
asserted
you → remind → winner
So that’s not a bad start.”
asserted
that → ’ → ?
The David Payne-trained Bangkok Hottie has been part of his stakes race run, winning the group 2 Furious (1200m) and Tea Rose Stakes (1400m) with strong on-pace efforts.
asserted
Hottie → train → efforts
She started $8.50 and a $3.90 second elect in those wins, respectively, and looks likely to be shaded in the market again.
asserted
She → start → market
She is $2.90 out to $3.10 with TAB to complete a hat-trick in the grand final of the Princess Series for three-year-old fillies, the $750,000 group 1 Flights Stakes over 1600m, on Saturday.
asserted
She → complete → Saturday
The Chris Waller-trained Striking Alibi, which has twice flashed home for a placing behind Bangkok Hottie, is a steady $2.60 favourite.
asserted
which → train → Hottie
“I keep chuckling at that all the time,” McEvoy said.
asserted
McEvoy → keep → that
“It’s the Aussies’ way to think, ‘What’s flashing home?’
asserted
What → ’ → ?
They keep putting her out as second or third pick, but anyway, it doesn’t really matter to myself, David or the filly.
asserted
it → put → myself
“She’s been winning well and has a nice approach to her work, so you’d think going out to the mile, a little deeper into her prep, she’s going to be fine.
asserted
she → win → prep
“She’s shown that she’s tactically sound, and I’d be surprised if she doesn’t enjoy the mile, but they’ve all got to tick that box, and you don’t know until you try.
asserted
you → show → box
But I wouldn’t change her, that’s for sure.
asserted
that → change → her
“You’ve obviously got to go with a bit of a different tempo, out to a mile, but she’s versatile and we can ride her according to the scenario on Saturday as it unfolds.”
uncertain
it → get → Saturday
McEvoy switches from grand final to dress rehearsal in the $1 million group 2 Premiere Stakes (1200m) with Headwall after picking up the ride from Zac Lloyd.
asserted
McEvoy → switch → Lloyd
The Matt Smith-trained sprinter came back from a year on the sidelines to secure the Everest slot of Neil Werrett and his partners with second in the Concorde Stakes and fifth, one length away, in the Shorts.
asserted
sprinter → train → Shorts
Lloyd is with Coolmore’s likely Everest runner, Guest House, for the October 17 showpiece, opening the door for McEvoy to keep his streak alive in the race.
asserted
McEvoy → open → race
McEvoy has won the Everest a record three times, with Redzel (2017-18) and Classique Legend (2020), and is the only jockey to feature in every edition of the race, which is approaching its 10th running.
asserted
which → win → running
He said it was exciting to link with Headwall ($10), which has gate two on Saturday to potentially get a better run from back in the pack.
asserted
which → say → pack
“He’s a great sprinter – we’ve seen that in recent seasons – and Matt has a good understanding of where he’s at,” he said.
asserted
he → ’ → where
“We know his best is good enough to run very well in an Everest.
asserted
best → know → Everest
He’s performed well on rain-affected ground, so I know I’ll be praying for some rain leading up to the Everest.
asserted
I → perform → Everest
“The soft draw on Saturday means we’ll have a ground-saving run for the first part and just hopefully present him and let him round the race off well.”
asserted
him → mean → race
McEvoy won the $1.5 million group 1 Epsom (1600m) last year aboard odds-on favourite Autumn Glow and this time has third elect Attica ($8).
asserted
McEvoy → win → Attica
The Joe Pride-trained group 1 winner at 2000m has just 51.5 kilograms from gate six.
asserted
winner → train → gate
“Randwick suits, the handicap suits and he’s trialled nicely since with blinkers on,” said McEvoy, who was third on Attica in the Tramway last start.
asserted
who → trialle → Tramway
“Hopefully we get a nice even to genuine tempo.
asserted
we → get → tempo
He’s a horse that can soak up a good tempo and still finish, especially with that light weight.
asserted
that → ’ → weight
That was a sharp trial the other day; he was very good, with a horse like Tempted behind him.”
The $750,000 Metropolitan (2400m), now a group 2, is one of the few major handicaps McEvoy has not won.
asserted
McEvoy → tempt → handicaps
He rides the Phillip and Tommy Stokes-trained Deakin ($14), which looks likely to head north after drawing poorly in the group 1 Turnbull Stakes at Flemington.
asserted
which → rid → Flemington
“I’ve had a couple of placings in the race and finished a nose second a few times, I think, so it would be nice to win,” he said.
asserted
he → have → race
“This horse is bringing good form – Randwick, the distance suits and he’s a capable stayer – so he’s a chance in an even race.”
asserted
he → bring → race
The Aporia
