Kerrin McEvoy bullish about Minhaaj in Group 1 Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield

Kerrin McEvoy has followed Minhaaj to Melbourne as he chases another triumph in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield.

Minhaaj was an impressive winner at Flemington on Derby Day last spring. Picture: Michael Klein.

Star jockey Kerrin McEvoy will be poised to strike with Minhaaj in the $750,000 Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100) should hot favourite Marabi bubble over under pressure.

McEvoy, who due to border restrictions has only managed sporadic Melbourne riding missions the past two years, earmarked the triple Group 1 Caulfield meeting after trialling Minhaaj twice in Sydney.

“I was taken by her wins, not that I rode her in the spring,” McEvoy said.

“But having won the race (Oakleigh Plate) previously on a mare called Mrs Onassis (2013), who got in with a light weight I think she (Minhaaj) profiles a bit similar.”

In her first campaign for Sydney trainer John O’Shea, former Lindsay Park mare Minhaaj won two Group 3s – at Randwick and Flemington – with James McDonald aboard.

McEvoy at the time pencilled in the four-year-old mare as horse to follow in the autumn.

“I hopped on her two trials leading into the campaign and she impressed me both times, running on quite stylishly in quality trial events up here (Sydney),” McEvoy said.

“So all those boxes ticked, it was a nice option for us to ride her.”

Kerrin McEvoy believes Minhaaj has the right profile to win the Oakleigh Plate. Picture: Getty Images

Unbeaten Marabi is a $2.80 TAB favourite for the Oakleigh Plate, followed by Minhaaj ($7.50) and Wild Ruler ($7.50).

The early running will be hotly contested with Oxley Road ($11), Jonker ($16) and Malkovich ($19) among those likely to challenge Marabi on-speed.

McEvoy will use barrier one to lob in a stalking position.

“There looks to be a bit of pressure in the race, so you never know, she might just get softened up a bit,” McEvoy

“My filly is drawn well and doesn’t have to be too far away … she’s in ripping order.

“Meeting a quality field but got a nice weight on her back and she‘s in good form.”

Blue Diamond day has been good to 79-time Group 1-winner McEvoy in the past.

He won the main event with True Jewels (2001) and the champion Sepoy (2011), while McEvoy piloted Dash For Cash in the 2002 Futurity Stakes.

McEvoy has six rides at Caulfield on Saturday including Rampant Lion in the Blue Diamond.

Originally published as Kerrin McEvoy bullish about Minhaaj in Group 1 Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield