Team Hayes will contemplate having two runners in the Cox Plate, with three-year-old gelding Evaporate (NZ) (Per Incanto) a possibility to join his stablemate Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) in the prestigious event at The Valley after his third in the Caulfield Guineas.
On Sunday, Ben Hayes confirmed Mr Brightside would have his next run in the Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040) on October 26 after he pulled up well after his second in the Gr.1 Might And Power Stakes.
“He ran very well. The race shape was not ideal and he always seems to be the one to do the chasing behind these front runners,” Hayes said on RSN.
“He’s on track for the Cox Plate and I notice that rain is forecast, so he will be suited by a track with a bit of give in it. While he runs well on firm tracks, he runs better on surfaces with give.”
Hayes said they would give consideration to starting Evaporate in the Cox Plate, at a track he is undefeated in from three starts, after his great run in the Caulfield Guineas.
“I thought his was the run of the race. He had to make an early move and then went wide. He peaked on his run and was only beaten three-quarters of a length in a race which was dominated by on-pacers,” Hayes said on RSN.
Ben Hayes said they had four options which they would consider for Evaporate, which were the Cox Plate or the Gr.2 Vase (2040) on the same program against his own age group or the Gr.1 Spring Champions Stakes (2000) at Randwick on the same day.
The other race he could run in was the Gr.3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600) at Flemington on Victoria Derby Day.
