Evaporate nears elusive Group 1 prize

Trainer Ben Hayes views Evaporate as a future Group 1 champion, yet facing elite mare Autumn Glow in the George Ryder Stakes at Rosehill means the stable could face a short delay in achieving that milestone.

Boasting six triumphs in 21 appearances, Evaporate was pipped at the post for a major prize last time out, going down to Tom Kitten in the All-Star Mile (1600m) at Flemington for his fourth Group 1 placing.

The Doncaster Mile (1600m) stands as Hayes' chief Sydney objective for the runner, and he sees Saturday's George Ryder Stakes (1500m) against Autumn Glow as an ideal gauge for progress.

"It's going to be a hot race, but it will let us know where we're at and then he will probably head to the Doncaster with 54-1/2 (kilos)," Hayes said.

"He's won over $3 million and hasn't won a Group One, so it's a pretty good achievement. Not many do that.

"He's a Group One horse that just hasn't done it yet."

At $23 in betting, Evaporate has handled stakes company from his three-year-old spring days and excels Sydney-style, with a win in the Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) at Randwick 12 months prior and a placing trailing Autumn Glow in the Golden Eagle (1500m).

Hayes praised the All-Star Mile run, as Evaporate set the pace for frontrunner Pride Of Jenni and dug deep right to the wire.

"It was super. He towed the field up to Jenni, chased her. Tom Kitten sat off him and just got him late," he said.

"But I loved the way he kept kicking. He has always been a genuine horse."

A key stepping stone to the Doncaster Mile, the George Ryder Stakes is also the prime target for overlooked gelding Encap.

Encap kicked off his return with a strong sixth in the Canterbury Stakes (1300m), missing victory by less than 1-1/2 lengths to Joliestar, enjoying an uninterrupted autumn after wet-weather issues last spring.

"His feet are so much better now too," Portelli said.

"We've had problems with his feet over the years, and he wasn't coming out of the gates and getting going, I think because they were hurting him.

"He almost won the Doncaster Mile last year at 50-1. We don't care about the price as long as we get a result, although his pattern makes it very hard to win and he is up against the best horses."

Listed at $126, Encap is paired with Hawkes Racing's Nepotism ($201) among the two George Ryder Stakes hopefuls trading at over $100.

Discover leading online bookmakers offering keen betting markets for the race in the George Ryder Stakes.