Verona Rose offers McEvoy a chance at Five Diamonds glory

While it won't erase the disappointment of missing The Golden Eagle win on Skyhook, securing victory aboard Verona Rose in the Five Diamonds would serve as a significant consolation for jockey Kerrin McEvoy.

McEvoy, the regular rider for the Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou-trained Skyhook, was sidelined from partnering him in last weekend's $10 million feature due to a penalty incurred for whip use.

Watching Skyhook claim the prize from afar was a mixed experience for McEvoy, who, in typical fashion, maintained his composure and offered a measured response.

"It was disappointing for me not to be there on the big day, but at the same time it was pleasing to see the horse go out and get the job done," McEvoy shared.

"Gerald and Sterling and myself, we were all of the opinion he'd gone to a new level, that this time in was going to be his time to shine, and that's exactly what he's shown.

"I cracked open a beer, and then I watched poor old Harry Coffey hit the deck (on Derby Day at Flemington), and I came to the realisation it's not all that bad."

McEvoy was back in action at Randwick on Melbourne Cup Day, achieving a win in one of the supporting races on The Big Dance program.

However, a victory aboard the Gary Portelli-trained Verona Rose in Saturday's $2 million Five Diamonds (1800m) would go a considerable way towards easing the regret of his Golden Eagle absence.

"You obviously get the bit between your teeth and want to get back out there," McEvoy stated.

"I know Gary has got her in really good form and she deserves her chance in a race like that."

Verona Rose, a two-time Group stakes winner, finished third behind Skyhook in the Theo Marks Stakes (1300m) upon resuming. She followed this with consecutive placings in the Golden Pendant (1400m) and The Invitation (1400m).

Her strong finishing efforts in those races, combined with her performance when beaten only three lengths in the 2025 ATC Oaks (2400m), despite not having won beyond a mile, gives McEvoy confidence that the 1800m distance of the Five Diamonds will be well within her capabilities.

"She showed enough promise to go out in trip as a three-year-old, so you'd think she could handle that, no problem at all," he said.

McEvoy is also slated to ride Modella for Lee and Cherie Curtis in the Group 2 Hot Danish Stakes (1400m) and Exo Velocity, trained by Chris Waller, in the $1 million Golden Gift (1100m).

Exo Velocity, a promising two-year-old filly, made an impressive debut win in the Kirkham Plate (1000m) last month. Although McEvoy did not ride her on that occasion, he is confident in Waller's assessment of the filly's future path.

"She gave me a nice feel, and she quickened really well. She's an exciting filly for the future," he commented.

"She's a Magic Millions filly so it must set up for her well to run in this and then potentially come back for something up there.

"She's got to go out there and do it all right again at Rosehill, which is a trickier circuit for a high-pressure two-year-old race, but she's going the right way."

The Five Diamonds is shaping up as a key race, and betting markets are already active with Australian betting sites.