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By Ray Hickson

Jockey Kerrin McEvoy says under-rated colt Skyhook showed him more than enough two weeks ago to be quietly confident he can turn the tables on boom filly Tempted at Rosehill on Saturday.

Jockey Kerrin McEvoy (Pic: Bradley Photos)

And if that’s good enough to win the Group 1 $1 million Yulong Golden Rose (1400m) it’ll hand McEvoy a third success in the three-year-old feature.

Skyhook found himself in an awkward position in the lead up Run To The Rose (1200m) just as Tempted was making her run and, while he dashed late to run third, he’s adamant he could have made a race of it had he not been held up.

McEvoy said that gives him more than a little encouragement going into such an important race.

“Given the way the day played I should have chased the speed a bit and that saw us get pocketed,’’ he said.

“We got clear when the race was all over and I felt if he had got clear air he would have been right there and challenging Tempted.

“It shows he’s backed up from his first-up win well and it gives us confidence against what’s likely to be the favourite on Saturday.”

When Skyhook, $5 with TAB on Wednesday, did wind up he produced the fastest last 200m of the Run To The Rose (11.64, Punter’s Intelligence) and McEvoy said that stands him in good stead to run out the 1400m.

The colt has followed a similar path that Gerald Ryan used with Menari in 2017 who won the Rosebud and Run To The Rose before finishing third to stablemate Trapeze Artist.

McEvoy said it’s been a smooth preparation to his eye, which started with an impressive Rosebud win, and he’ll reach his target as planned unlike back in the autumn when he had to back up within a week in the Golden Slipper.

“He had to do it the hard way into the Slipper but this time it’s been a different sort of a prep,’’ he said.

“He didn’t thicken right up in his break but he got a lot taller and grew up a fair bit, he’s progressed from two to three which is what you need to do.

“Although many of his opposition have had a go (at 1400m) I’m more than hopeful he will enjoy it.”

The champion jockey won the first Golden Rose that was classified as a Group 1 back in 2009 on Denman and he guided The Autumn Sun from an impossible position to score a famous win in 2018.

As promising as the favourite Tempted is, McEvoy said there’s been no dominant three-year-old, unlike his two previous winners, this season and luck in running is going to have a role.

Skyhook has drawn the middle of the nine horse field which he said gives him options.

“It’s a small field and he’s a bit versatile as we’ve seen and that can often offset a barrier draw,’’ he said.

Skyhook runs third in the Run To The Rose

“He can be close, he can be just off them. It’s going to be a different race compared to the quickly run Run To The Rose.

“Providing he can step away it gives us options to where we can park up. He’s going to need to bring his best and I’m confident of him running well.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s Golden Rose at Rosehill