The Lindsay Park training team is poised for a thrilling climax to the spring racing season, believing their stable star Evaporate has been saved for one of his toughest assignments yet. The four-year-old gelding is set to clash with sprinting sensations Jimmysstar and Angel Capital in Saturday's prestigious $1 million C F Orr Stakes at Caulfield.
High Stakes at Caulfield
Ben Hayes, who trains in partnership with his brothers Will and JD, expresses strong confidence in Evaporate's ability to compete at the highest level. The Per Incanto four-year-old has essentially earned his shot at the 1400-metre Group 1 feature through impressive recent performances.
Evaporate enters the race following a solid third placing in the $10 million Golden Eagle (1500m), which served as his primary spring target. What surprised connections most was how exceptionally well the horse recovered from that demanding effort.
"That's the reason we've decided to run," Hayes explained. "He came back from Sydney and trotted up 100 per cent sound and looked a million dollars, so we had no hesitation at all."
Maiden Group 1 Pursuit
The C F Orr Stakes represents Evaporate's opportunity to secure his maiden Group 1 success at weight-for-age conditions. This year marks a significant calendar change for the race, moving from its traditional February timeslot to November for the first time.
His campaign form reads impressively: the Golden Eagle placing, where he finished just over 1-1/2 lengths from the unbeaten Autumn Glow, was preceded by a narrow second placing to Transatlantic in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m). That result reversed the outcome of their previous meeting in the Group 3 Sandown Stakes (1500m).
Evaporate's spring preparation began with a fifth placing in the Group 2 P B Lawrence Stakes (1400m) back on August 16. The C F Orr Stakes will see him return to the 1400-metre distance for the first time since that initial run.
Tactical Advantage from Wide Gate
Despite drawing the second-widest gate in the field of seven, Hayes sees this as a potential advantage rather than a drawback. The trainer has developed a clear tactical approach for the race.
"I actually like it, I think the wide draw will work in his favour in the small field," Hayes stated. "Being one of the last to load will help him. It's going to be a really tactical race. If he can jump well and, as long as he can get galloping room and get himself in a good rhythm, I think he'll be very competitive."
Evaporate will have the services of Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Jamie Melham in the saddle. At barrier rise, Angel Capital will be positioned to his immediate inside, while Jimmysstar will begin from the potentially advantageous barrier three.
The stage is set for a compelling showdown between some of Australian racing's most promising talent, with connections confident their horse can rise to the occasion against elite competition.
