Two of Sydney's most accomplished jockeys both had a taste of Group I performers at Tuesday's Rosehill barrier trials and gave their mounts rave reviews.
Kerrin McEvoy picked up the Group I Moir Stakes ride aboard Golden Slipper winner She Will Reign after Craig Williams was suspended at Flemington on Saturday and he was having his maiden voyage on the filly in a 900m open trial.
McEvoy positioned She Will Reign behind the speedy leader Sweet Serendipity before sooling the daughter of Manhattan Rain along from the 300m and she assumed control, drawing clear late to win the heat by a length in the fastest time of the session, 52.90 seconds with the last 600m run in 33.90 seconds.
#TheEverest contender She Will Reign was given a solid hit-out in her trial @rosehillgardens ahead of her first-up run in the Moir Stakes. pic.twitter.com/qmANnBP3Pd
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) September 18, 2017
"Gary just wanted her to have a nice hit-out over the last furlong and a half and she's in really good order," McEvoy said.
"It was good to have a feel of her. She's very straight forward, cantered around lovely, stood in the gates fine and then got down to business when the gates opened."
She Will Reign kicks off her campaign on Friday week at Moonee Valley in the 1000m Group I weight-for-age event before returning to Sydney to run in the $10 million The Everest (1200m) at Randwick on October 14.
The last three-year-old filly to win the Moir Stakes was Virage De Fortune in 2005 but McEvoy believes She Will Reign has the right attributes to achieve the feat.
"Moonee Valley first time under lights is obviously a query but she's one out of the box and she showed me this morning she's a lovely ride," he said.
"If this morning is anything to go by they're going to know she's there, that's for sure."
Corey Brown was the other jockey to get his first experience on a Group I-performed mare at the trials when stepping aboard the Ben Smith-trained In Her Time in a 900m heat.
The sharp daughter of Time Thief stalked the speed before dragging Brown to the front passing the 200m and cruising to an impressive 3-3/4 lengths trial win in 54 seconds, the last 600m in 34.60 seconds.
"She was an easy ride, no vices at all," Brown said. "She was pretty good too.
"Ben told me she's previously raced in the pacifiers but I said to him, 'no need now mate' she was bomb-proof.
"She was three-quarter pace down the straight.
"She was the perfect little ride. Whatever I wanted to do she was happy to oblige. All go."
In Her Time is set to resume at Randwick on Saturday week in the Group II Premiere Stakes (1200m).
