The similarities between Evaporate and recent 3YO Cox Plate champions

David Hayes sees similarities between Lindsay Park’s Evaporate and some recent Cox Plate champions.

Trained by David’s sons Ben, Will and JD, Evaporate is one of the two three-year-olds set to take his place in this year’s edition of Australia’s premier weight-for-age race which takes place at Moonee Valley on Saturday.

Evaporate has already built a nice profile in nine career starts which have delivered four wins and three placings.

Three of those wins came in a row at The Valley prior to an impressive third against the track pattern in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas a fortnight ago, finishing ahead of Broadsiding who is a fraction of his price on Saturday.

Hayes, who trained Fields Of Omagh and Better Loosen Up to Cox Plate triumphs, feels Evaporate is in a similar position to Shamus Award and So You Think before they took out the 2040m classic as three-year-olds.

“He ticks a few boxes,” Hayes said on SENTrack.

“He’s outstanding at The Valley, he’s got the best record in the race at The Valley. He’s had three starts for three wins, going through the grades.

“He ran a slashing race against the track trend and he beat the (Guineas) favourite (Broadsiding), so I think he deserves his place in the race.

“He’ll take a nice handy position in the run and if he runs a strong 2000m like Shamus Award and So You Think, his form is very similar to there’s going into the Cox Plate.

“Whether he turns out as good, only time will tell, but he’s not a bad horse and he’s at good odds.”

Hayes Snr says the stable considered taking a different route in the Flemington carnival but in the end opted for the Cox Plate.

“It was a toss-up between the Cox Plate and the Carbine (Club Stakes),” he added.

“The Carbine wasn’t a walk in the park. The horse that ran second in the Guineas (Feroce) is running.

“When the Cox Plate field was a bit smaller, I think it was a no-brainer.”

Evaporate is currently priced at $26 with Sportsbet for the Cox Plate while stablemate Mr Brightside is at $8.50.

Ben, Will and JD Hayes are striving to go one better after finishing second to Romantic Warrior with Mr Brightside last year.