Tony McEvoy was happy with what he saw from Veight, who continued his preparation towards the Manikato Stakes with a Monday morning trial, but his stable star’s appearance was not what had him most excited.
The Ballarat trainer and his partner, son Calvin, descended on Cranbourne with a big team of juveniles for Victoria’s first official two-year-old trials of the season.
They McEvoys not only had Snitzel filly Hiatus and Zoustar filly Odessa win the 800-metre workouts, they had the first five over the line in each six-horse trial.
“It was nice to get those babies to the trials today,” McEvoy said.
“These are the ones that have put their hand up to have an opportunity early, so we’re just giving them that opportunity and today will tell us a lot more.
“There will be some that fall by the wayside after today and there will be some that’ll want to keep going after today.
“We’ve probably got another eight to 10 at home just behind this group that will be ready for these early races if we need them.”
The first trial was won by $350,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast yearling Hiatus, a daughter of Snitzel and the Galileo mare Albanilla, who is from a family that includes Arc De Triomphe winner Alpinista and Eldar Eldarov, winner of both the English and Irish St Legers.
“She looked like a two-year-old at the sale, but with her pedigree she won’t be only a two-year-old,” McEvoy said.
“She’s always wanted to be at the front of the bus and she looks a nice filly.”
Hiatus defeated Exceedance colt Extreme, a $160,000 Gold Coast youngster who is out of a daughter of Crystal Lily’s half-sister Crystal Wit, with Graff filly and $60,000 Inglis Classic yearling Child’s Play in third.
Fourth and fifth in that trial was Hello Youmzain colt Bertrand and Emirates Park homebred Naifah, a filly by I Am Invincible who is closely related to Charm Stone and Najmaty.
Odessa is by Zoustar out of Aryaaf, a daughter of Bulbula who Rosemont bought for $800,000 at the 2021 National Broodmare Sale on the Gold Coast.
She defeated $270,000 Inglis Premier filly Far More Radiant, who is a member of the first crop of Golden Slipper winner Farnan, with $250,000 Inglis Easter Exceed And Excel filly Excenia third, clear of I An Invincible colt Blackjack and Dublin Down’s sister Dalkey.
“Odessa is a nice filly by Zoustar, I really like her and she’s always been very professional, as has the Farnan filly that ran second. They both went very nicely, so I’m very happy with them.”
If any of McEvoy’s Cranbourne set achieve what Veight has, McEvoy will be happy and he is confident this year’s Group 1 George Ryder Stakes winner is on track for a good campaign after a 1-1/2 lengths second to the speedy Katsu in his 800m trial.
“He found it a bit sharp, that leader (Katsu) was very fast, and he was off the bit chasing a bit before the turn but really got into his work late and trialled very well.”
Veight resumes in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) on September 27, which is the first step in a campaign that has been geared around the $10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill on November 2.