McEvoy Trusting he has a future stayer

Tony McEvoy is keen to see how Tan Tat Trusting runs at Sandown at his first start for the stable.

Trainer Tony McEvoy is liking what he is seeing from stable newcomer Tan Tat Trusting but admits he’s still in a learning phase with the gelding.

Formerly prepared by Henry Dwyer, Tan Tat Trusting runs for the first time for McEvoy in the Sheen Group Handicap (1600m) at Sandown on Wednesday.

McEvoy estimates the four-year-old has been in his care for three months, progressing nicely for his racetrack return, although he is not yet setting his sights too high.

“I’ve got to learn more about him but I’m liking what I’m seeing at this stage,” McEvoy said.

“He’ll run a solid race and get better as the distances get longer.”

Tan Tat Trusting finished third on debut over 1400m at Echuca in July before winning his maiden at Sandown over 1600m 16 days later.

McEvoy says the fitter Tan Tat Trusting has got the more ground the gelding is looking for, prompting him to start him off over 1600m first-up.

“Not many horses can do that, run first-up at a mile,” McEvoy said.

“But he’s had a couple of trials and I didn’t think it would be worthwhile running him in anything shorter.

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“The way he’s shaping he could be a really good mile-and-a-half horse.”

McEvoy will also be represented by Scarecrow who returns as a gelding in the Chandler Macleod Plate.

At his first start in June, Scarecrow ran second at Wodonga as odds-on favourite.

Like Tan Tat Trusting, McEvoy has a good opinion of Scarecrow but wants to see how he comes back and to see him winning races.

“I took him up to the bush to Wodonga for his first run and thought he’d just win,” McEvoy said.

“But he found one to beat him unfortunately.

“He’s improved, I’ve gelded him, he’s trialled up nicely and is going very well.”

Trojan Storm makes his debut for McEvoy in the Ladbrokes Handicap after being previously trained by Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra.

After being first emergency Trojan Storm has found his way into the field following the scratching of Monkstone.