Horse racing can be a fickle business.
Expectations were high for Lindsay Park when Cape Of Good Hope came out of quarantine to win the Group 1 Caulfield Stakes (2000m) in October 2019, just two weeks after his arrival in Australia.
They were also expecting a forward showing in that year’s Cox Plate at The Valley, won by Japanese mare Lys Gracieux, and the potential for Cape Of Good Hope to eventually stand at stud in Australia.
Just over 18 months since he last raced, Cape Of Good Hope is about to embark on his latest campaign when he runs in The Lexus Mugatoo (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Since that Caulfield Stakes victory, Cape Of Good Hope has raced on seven occasions, for no result and his most recent outing was finishing last in the Group 3 Coongy Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield in October 2020, his last run for Lindsay Park.
After a stint with Danny O’Brien, Cape Of Good Hope is now in the care of Tony and Calvin McEvoy.
The McEvoy’s are not expecting a lot on Saturday.
“We got a phone callout of the blue,” Calvin McEvoy said.
“Some of the original owners bought the other owners out and gave him six months off and thought they would like to give him one more opportunity.
“We were very happy to try, and the general consensus was whether the horse was willing and wanted to race and what he’s shown us has been really good.
“He’s been off the scene for a very long time, and he’ll certainly improve off what he does but he’s had a couple of trials, his gallops have been good, and it will be nice to see him back at the races.”
McEvoy said Cape Of Good Hope required surgery for an epiglottic entrapment, and post operation McEvoy said the entire’s preparation had been smooth sailing ever since.
“We won’t be able to judge him on this weekend,” McEvoy said.
“He’ll be a bit ring rusty but we’re thinking the Bendigo Mile, might be a nice second-up race for him, but we’ll make more decisions after this weekend.”