Evaporate has what it takes

MELBOURNE Lindsay Park could have saved the best for last in terms of stern tests for Evaporate this spring, but trainer Ben Hayes is convinced he can mix it with star sprinters Jimmysstar and Angel Capital in the A$1 million (S$852,000) Group 1 Orr Stakes (1,400m) at Caulfield on Nov 15.

Trained in partnership by the Hayes brothers, Ben, and twins J.D. and Will of the famous Lindsay Park Racing operation, the Per Incanto four-year-old basically demanded a shot in Victoria’s feature.

Evaporate heads in off a third placing just 1½ lengths behind the unbeaten Autumn Glow in the Golden Eagle (1,500m) at Randwick on Nov 1. That was his main spring target, but Hayes was pleasantly surprised with how well he came through it.

“That’s the reason we’ve decided to run him,” said Hayes.

“He came back from Sydney and trotted up 100 per cent sound and looked a million dollars, so we had no hesitation at all.

“It’s a small but very good field, but we’ve always had a high opinion of him.”

Evaporate is chasing a maiden Group 1 success in the weight-for-age Orr Stakes, which moves to November for the first time after previous editions were run in February. In 2024, Mr Brightside won it for the Hayes brothers on Feb 10.

A race before his Golden Eagle-third, the six-time winner finished a narrow second to Transatlantic in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1,600m) at Caulfield on Oct 11.

Evaporate strung together four wins in 2024, including his first Group victory in the Group 2 Stutt Stakes (1,600m) at Moonee Valley on Sept 27.

He went on to land two Group 3 wins in 2025, namely the Carbine Club Stakes (1,600m) at Randwick on April 5 and the Sandown Stakes (1,500m) at Sandown Hillside on Sept 27.

Evaporate drops back to 1,400m for the first time, since his fifth placing behind Private Eye in the Group 2 PB Lawrence Stakes (1,400m) at Caulfield on Aug 16 four starts ago.

But Hayes doubts that will be an issue for the gelding, who jumps from barrier six.

“I actually like it. I think the wide draw will work in his favour in the small field of seven,” he said.

“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 is the third favourite at 5-1 and will be ridden by

Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Jamie Melham

.

He will have 23-10 second favourite Angel Capital to his immediate inside at the start. The Chris Waller-trained four-year-old will be ridden by Melham’s husband and jockey, Ben Melham.

Odds-on favourite Jimmysstar will start from barrier three. His regular partner Ethan Brown will be chasing his first Group 1 win of the 2025-26 season atop the Ciaron Maher-trained six-year-old.

Brown reunited with the son of Per Incanto during trackwork earlier in the week and served an ominous warning to his rivals.

“He cemented himself as a proper weight-for-age horse I think and that’s been evident in his form,” said Brown, who has won thrice with Jimmysstar.

“I jumped on him on Monday, he worked really well. He’s drawn a nice gate and there’s no reason why he’s not going to show up again.

“He’s had a big prep but there’s still a horse there and still the best of him. He’s flying.” RACING AND SPORTS