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By Ray Hickson

Jockey Kerrin McEvoy concedes luck is going to play a big part in the outcome of Saturday’s $1 million The Gong (1600m) so he’s happy his mount Promise Of Success has a small barrier draw advantage on her side.

Jockey Kerrin McEvoy (Pic: Bradley Photos).

It’s not because she’s the type of mare who will bounce and box seat, because she hasn't shown that in the past, but McEvoy said coming up with a gate like two will make the first half of the race easier.

And that’s the key to the John O'Shea-trained seven-year-old producing the kind of finish that saw her claim the $2 million Invitation, where she accounted for the likes of subsequent stakes winners Icebath and Sheeza Belter.

“She always travels supremely well in her races, whether it’s soft ground or top of the ground, she’s quite a keen participant so it’s important to get the first part of the race right with her," McEvoy said.

“The barrier means you can get that important bit of cover and it might mean I’m a tiny bit closer.

“From a wider draw you have to be focused on getting her to switch off but it might mean we can settle a pair or so closer and a mile will be no problem if she can do it in the right fashion.”

She’s only raced once at a mile in Australia and ran fifth on a heavy 10 in the Group 1 Queen Of The Turf in April but was a strong winner of the Emancipation at 1500m the start prior.

Promise Of Success, $13 with TAB on Friday, has mixed form this spring on paper but McEvoy said there have been genuine excuses for her two defeats and she was far from disgraced beaten only two lengths in a Group 3 at Flemington on November 1.

“The first-up run was on the day it was a heavy 12 basically, but second-up she showed nice improvement,’’ he said.

“Once she gets that first part right she’s got a good finish and that’s what she showed in The Invitation.

“At Flemington the inside got a bit worn out as the day went on, it was a farcically run race and she travelled a bit too well. She still ran a creditable race but the race shape didn’t suit us.

“She’s a great race mare, it’s obviously a good line up but I think she has a good each-way chance.”

McEvoy is looking forward to seeing how Les Bridge’s import Irish Legend returns in the Evergreen Turf Handicap (1400m).

The five-year-old, interestingly born on the same day as Promise Of Success but two years later, made a promising local debut in June running an unlucky third behind Wicklow over 1500m, giving the winner 2.5kg, and was spelled after failing on a heavy track in July.

“He’ll appreciate getting on top of the deck,’’ McEvoy said.

Promise Of Success wins The Invitation

“He arguably should have won that race against Wicklow, I got clear and he was crowded by the horse on the outside. It showed there he can perform well fresh.

“He’s come back in nice fashion, I’ve ridden him a couple of times this week and he seems to have come out of the trials really well.

“It wouldn’t surprise me if he improved off the run but he can go there and run really well.”

Irish Legend was $7 with TAB on Friday.

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