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By John Curtis

Icebath will resume in the $160,000 Group 3-Show County Quality at Royal Randwick on Saturday week with Kerrin McEvoy returning as her rider.

And Icebath’s stablemates Adelong and Vulpine will also begin new campaigns at the same meeting, but in a different race.

Icebath wins at Royal Randwick for Tom Sherry. Image by Bradley Photographers

Leading Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup confirmed the booking after McEvoy had partnered the Doncaster Mile and Golden Eagle runner-up in an 800m jumpout on the Hawkesbury course proper this morning.

The now five-year-old Icebath flew out of the stalls and led throughout, turning the tables on Godolphin’s Cascadian, who edged her out in the Group 1 Doncaster at Royal Randwick on April 10.

McEvoy, who also partnered the mare in a Randwick 900m trial on July 27, has ridden her twice previously, when fifth in the Group 1 Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 13 and fourth in the Group 2 Emancipation Stakes (1500m) there on April 3.

Jay Ford rode Icebath a week later when she went within a whisker of landing the Doncaster Mile.

“Icebath is certainly beginning better, and I’m happy with how she is progressing,” Widdup said this evening.

“But it’s early days in this campaign. She is still above herself and has a big campaign ahead.

“I’ve got no doubt she will continue to improve as she gets further into her preparation, with a couple of runs under her belt.”

Icebath’s initial target is the $400,000 Group 2-Golden Pendant (1400m) for fillies and mares, expected to be her third start this preparation, at Rosehill on September 25.

TAB.com.au has listed her at $15 for Sydney’s new race, the $2m The Invitation (1400m) at Randwick on October 23. The fillies and mares’ feature will be restricted to a field of 12 chosen by a selected Racing NSW panel.

Whilst Icebath kicks off in the Show County Quality (1200m), Adelong and Vulpine, who also led throughout in separate jumpouts this morning, will both contest the Group 3-Toy Show Quality (1100m) against their own sex.

“It’s a shame they have to run in the same race, but it’s unavoidable,” Widdup said. “Jay (Ford) was on both Adelong and Vulpine this morning, and it will be up to him which mare he chooses to ride in the Toy Show.”