McEvoy turns to English legend for inside oil on stayer Simenon

KERRIN McEvoy will use advice given to him by legendary English jockey Johnny Murtagh when he rides Irish stayer Simenon in the Herbert Power Stakes.

Jockey Kerrin McEvoy is taking the ride on Simenon at Caulfield on Saturday. Picture: Mark Evans

KERRIN McEvoy will use some advice given to him by English riding legend Johnny Murtagh when he partners Irish stayer Simenon in the Group 2 $220,000 Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) at Caulfield tomorrow.

McEvoy hasn't ridden Simenon even in a track gallop but spoke to Murtagh earlier this week to learn more about the Melbourne Cup hopeful.

Murtagh rode Simenon at his last two starts for a second in the Ascot Gold Cup (4023m) and the Lonsdale Cup (3299m).

"Johnny Murtagh told me he led on Simenon at York (Lonsdale Cup) and that didn't suit him as the horse is better ridden with cover," McEvoy said.

"I remember Simenon winning twice at Royal Ascot last year and he is obviously a strong stayer."

Simenon won the Ascot Stakes (4023m) by six lengths on the opening day of 2012 Royal Ascot carnival then backed up five days later and romped home in the Queen Alexandra Stakes (4369m) by seven lengths.

He has not won a race since but his recent efforts in England has convinced trainer Willie Mullins to target the Melbourne Cup.

Simenon is among nine Herbert Power Stakes runners who are entered for next week's $2.5 million Caulfield Cup (2400m) but Mullins has already confirmed his stayer won't back-up.

Jockey Kerrin McEvoy is taking the ride on Simenon at Caulfield on Saturday. Picture: Mark Evans

The Caulfield meeting tomorrow will determine the make-up of the 18-horse Cup field next Saturday with:

#HERBERT Power runners Sea Moon, Tanby, Kesampour, Moudre, Oasis Bloom, Motivado, Let's Make A Deal and Goldoni needing to win to secure a Caulfield Cup start.

#TREVIERES and Bass Strait are in a must-win situation in the Toorak Handicap.

#YALUMBA Stakes runners Green Moon, Foreteller and Super Cool are safely in the Caulfield Cup; and

#OWNER Lloyd Williams has seven of the 41 entries left in the Caulfield Cup but may only have one, possibly two runners next week - Fawkner and Seville.

Williams also has Green Moon, Sea Moon, Tanby, Masked Marvel and Mourayan in the Caulfield Cup.

Green Moon (58kg) and Sea Moon (57kg) are the Caulfield Cup topweights and if Williams decided not to run either stayer next week, the weights will need to be raised at least 1.5kg.

It is expected Green Moon will be reserved for the Cox Plate while Sea Moon and Tanby both ran in the Bart Cummings last week, meaning it is unlikely either would back up for a third week in a row if they qualified for the Caulfield Cup.

McEvoy is also riding French galloper Trevieres in the Group 1 $400,000 Toorak Handicap (1600m).

"I rode him work at Werribee and he looks a nice horse," McEvoy said.

"He galloped on his own so he was a little bit too relaxed but he has obviously travelled out here in good order.

"He has impressive handicap form in France but whether that measures up to Toorak form is hard to say.

"But he's on the limit and I think he is sharp enough to run well."

Simenon will race in Saturday's Herbert Power Stakes on his way to the Melbourne Cup. Picture: Getty Images

CAULFIELD CUP SQUEEZE PLAY

YALUMBA STAKES

Guaranteed a start:

1st Foreteller

4th Green Moon

Eq5th Super Cool

HERBERT POWER STAKES

Needs to win:

32nd Moudre

33rd Oasis Bloom

39th Sea Moon

Eq34th Motivado

Eq37th Let's Make A Deal

Eq37th Goldoni

Borderline:

Eq17th Simenon

Eq17th Tanby

Eq29th Kesampour

TOORAK HANDICAP

Needs to win:

40th Trevieres

41st Bass Strait