Evaporate successful in Five Diamonds

Consistent performer Evaporate (NZ) (Per Incanto) added another gold star to a burgeoning career record when he out-toughed his rivals to win the rich A$2million Gr.3 Five Diamonds (1800m) at Royal Randwick.

The race for five-year-old runners has become a popular target since its inception in the 2022 racing season and Saturday’s contest proved a worthy edition of the contest thanks to a masterful Nash Rawiller ride aboard the winner and a determined pair of relative outsiders chasing home the eventual winner.

Rawiller was at his silky best as he bounced the Ben, Will and JD Hayes-prepared Evaporate away well to take up a forward position in third against the rail, just behind the pacemaking pair of Zambardo (NZ) (Belardo) and Brindavan (Belardo).

Evaporate had race favourite Linebacker (NZ) (Super Seth) outside him throughout and looked to be in a tight spot turning for home, however, Rawiller extricated him from the pocket with a surgeon’s touch as he then set out after Zambardo who was still kicking hard in front.

Drawing alongside at the 150m, Evaporate proved too tough in the closing stages as he fought off a brave Zambardo by a neck at the post, with the second Hayes runner, Plymouth (The Autumn Sun), charging home against the rail to claim third.

Will Hayes was on hand at Randwick and was one of the first to heap praise upon the ride by Rawiller, on a horse that still has some quirks in his racing manners.

“That was a brilliant ride from Nash,” Hayes said.

“Evaporate can be sticky away from the gates and we really wanted to make use of the barrier. As you saw in the run, he still got quite aggressive, and Nash did his best to keep him in a rhythm. He still didn’t race very genuinely, and he’s just got so much more talent that he was able to win.”

“The stablemate, Plymouth, has run a huge race as well to get up for third, so it has been a terrific day for the stable. I’m just very proud to represent the team.

Hayes wouldn’t be drawn on any immediate plans for his charge after achieving what the stable had come to Sydney to do.

“We’ll see how he pulls up, as there are options galore for him,” he said.

“But we’ve had this race circled for a long time, five-year-olds, set weights and penalties is right up his alley.

“We do believe he has Group One ability, we’ve just frustratingly not been able to get there yet. But he’s taken the owners on a terrific ride.”

Rawiller was delighted to win one for the Hayes stable after he had ridden for their grandfather Colin (CS Hayes) early in his career.

“I was really honoured to be able to say that I rode for CS back in the day as an apprentice, as he put me on quite a few times all around Victoria and city tracks,” he said.

“To be riding winners now for these boys, it’s not just a privilege but an honour. A great thrill.”

“He (Evaporate) knuckled coming out of the gates. Honestly, he’s the weirdest customer you’d ever come across. I think he half shocked himself into putting himself into a great spot.

“He dead-set gave a scare for one stride. The way he came up running, he definitely gave himself a fright.

“He got into a lovely spot and when Linebacker started dropping off before the corner, the run presented and for a horse who hasn’t really got the job done for some time, he showed a lot of tenacity over the last 100m.”

Evaporate has now had 29 starts for eight wins, 10 placings and A$4,539,525 in prizemoney. Amongst the eight victories are four at stakes level including the Gr.2 Stutt Stakes (1600m).

He was bred by Little Avondale Stud, home to Per Incanto, a son of Street Cry who has sired nine Group One winners and 33 stakes winners to date.

The dam of Evaporate is the unraced Animal Kingdom mare Savanna (NZ), whose half-sister Belluci Babe, also by Per Incanto, was a Group Three winner for Bjorn Baker.

Evaporate was bought by Lindsay Park Racing for A$330,000 at the Gold Coast Yearling Sale in 2023.