McEvoy's Man Back In Action

Fri 3 Feb

South Australian trainer Tony McEvoy is excited about the return of stable star Jimando in tomorrow's Emirates Airlines Stakes (1100m) and hopes the son of Commands can further enhance his prospects for the G1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) later this month. Speaking to Shane Anderson on Racing Ahead this morning, McEvoy who recently spent time in New Zealand at the yearling sales, said Jimando was spot on for his return. "I'm very happy with his condition going in and his definitely gone the right way since the spring," McEvoy said. "I strongly considered running him in the Blue Diamond first up, that's how much i think of his capacity to handle work and his ability to run a trip, but because he's done so well and he's a big lump of a thing we decided to give him a hit-out beforehand." Jimando burst onto the scene with a resounding win in the Debutants Stakes at Caulfield back in October, and McEvoy's confidence has been buoyed even further with the impeccable formlines from the race. "The form around his first win has been very complimentary and i have thoroughly enjoyed it," McEvoy said. "Two-year olds normally make mistakes and don't quite take what they do at home to the race track, but this bloke actually went to another level and his win was the best i'd ever seen him go." Jimando will be ridden for the first time by Blake Shinn tomorrow and is currently the $2.30 favourite for the $100,000 Caulfield feature.