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By Ray Hickson

What Kerrin McEvoy says after he partners Kovalica at Rosehill on Saturday is probably more important than his pre-race thoughts but he’s looking forward to teaming up with Chris Waller’s exciting galloper.

Jockey Kerrin McEvoy (Pic: Bradley Photos).

The champion jockey has had one look on Kovalica’s back in his first trial this campaign but will be doing his homework to get to know the Group 1 winner better in preparation for the Group 2 $300,000 Toyota Forklifts Theo Marks Stakes (1300m).

Kovalica has only started once at 1300m, that was on debut, but McEvoy is well aware of the raps on the horse and what’s expected of him this spring.

Those raps saw the Chris Waller-trained four-year-old, a winner of six of his nine starts, open $4.60 favourite for the Theo Marks though he’d drifted to $6 with TAB by Thursday.

“He’s a nice horse and was brilliant when he went up to Brisbane,’’ McEvoy said.

“He looks to be moving nicely in his trials and it’s a nice starting point for him in a race I’m sure he can make his presence felt.

“I’ll watch a lot of replays, you can gain a lot by watching them closely and you put that to good use when you sit on them for the first time.”

He’s currently sitting on top of the market for the $1.5m TAB Epsom Handicap (1600m) at $8, alongside Princess Grace and Pericles.

Waller indicated in his weekly preview video that Kovalica is one of the horses he’s most excited to see this weekend though conceded first-up at 1300m, after a Queensland Derby win at the end of May, from a tricky draw might play against him.

“He’s got an interesting prep ahead of him now he’s a four-year-old and I know Chris is unsure what his best distance might be but I suppose Saturday is a starting point and hopefully he can kick off in good style,’’ McEvoy said.

Congregation is a horse McEvoy knows well and he’s keen to kick off the expensive colt’s spring on a positive note in the Group 3 $250,000 ACY Securities Ming Dynasty Quality (1400m).

McEvoy rode the youngster in all three starts in his first preparation, which started with two wins, and while he’s not been on the colt’s back in his two trials the reports about him have been encouraging.

“He’s a horse I always thought would be better as a three-year-old and it wouldn’t surprise me to see him run a good race,’’ he said.

“I was chatting to one of the girls who rode him work on Tuesday and they said he put forward a nice piece of work.”

A midfield finish in the Group 1 JJ Atkins (1600m) wound up Congregation’s two-year-old career and McEvoy is pleased he’s not resuming in a short course sprint.

“He’s always given the indication that 1400m and further might be his best trip so I’m happy to have that as his start point,’’ he said.

“It was exciting to see him do it early on because I don’t think Chris had the screws turned much at all and that could see nice improvement into this preparation.”

Kovalica's latest trial at Rosehill on August 22

General Salute was a $17 chance with TAB on Thursday in the Group 2 $300,000 James Squire Run To The Rose (1200m) but McEvoy said his first-up run has been under-rated.

The Russian Revolution colt finished fourth in the San Domenico Stakes (1100m), beaten one length by Libertad, and clocked the second fastest last 600m of 32.77 (Punter’s Intelligence).

“He did a little bit wrong. He laid in and had a horse lay out under him and then he laid out,’’ McEvoy said.

“So he ran a really good race with a good last section, without really concentrating 100 per cent. I think you can see improvement again and he goes there with a nice chance.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Rosehill meeting