04 August 2017,

Trainer Tony McEvoy says Azazel will continue on the path to the Group One Caulfield Guineas when he starts at Flemington on Saturday afternoon.

The son of Snitzel impressed in a jumpout down the Flemington straight last Friday and McEvoy will now race him in an Open Three-Year-Old Handicap over 1000m.

“Essentially I think he will make into a miler and we will aim him at the Caulfield Guineas later.” – Tony McEvoy

“I’m really pleased with him, he’s come out of it well and the jumpout has improved him,” McEvoy said. “His first jumpout was pretty soft so I wanted him to have a solid hitout because I thought he needed it.

“Luke (Currie) said he settled well and then when he picked him up he changed nicely.”

Azazael is 25/1 to win the Caulfield Guineas with Royal Symphony 11/2 and Kementari priced at 12/1.

Azazel won the Inglis 2YO on debut at Moonee Valley in October and then finished fourth to Property in the Group Three Blue Diamond Prelude over 1100m at Caulfield last time on 11th February.

McEvoy is also confident the colt can perform further than the minimum sprint distances.

“He has done very well here at Flemington and eats everything you put in front of him which is a great advantage,” McEvoy added.

“We had a little bit of work done on his throat while he was off – we didn’t have to but we just wanted to be absolutely certain of giving him his best chance this preparation.

“Essentially I think he will make into a miler and we will aim him at the Caulfield Guineas later, they call it the stallion making race so we’ll give him his chance.

“He’s by the champion Snitzel from a stout Aga Khan female family and I’d like to stretch him out and see how far he takes us.”

Meanwhile, Kementari is 9/1 to win the Golden Rose next month.

From: Internet