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By Ray Hickson

Jockey Kerrin McEvoy is adamant flashy galloper Franz Josef is no one trick pony and doesn’t have to lead to win as he looks to continue his rise at Rosehill on Saturday.

Jockey Kerrin McEvoy (Pic: Bradley Photos)

With three wins and a second from his four starts, the chestnut takes a step up in class into a race that he may not be able to control as he did when he outpointed Captain Furai in heavy ground two weeks ago.

McEvoy is wary of the presence of the Tulloch Lodge front-runner I’mintowin drawn a few horses to his outside in the Racing For Good On July 13 Handicap (1500m) but is also confident can handle some pressure.

“This fellow is an on speed runner but I wouldn’t say he’s an out-and-out leader so we will ride the scenario that unfolds,’’ McEvoy said.

“He’s got a few strings to his bow and we’ll hopefully see another side to that on Saturday.

“It’s up in grade all the same, you’ve got horses having heavy track runs and they need to be able to handle that and back up into the next one so he’s by no means across the line.

“You call it winter, or off season, racing but it’s a high level of racing.”

Franz Josef, $2.50 with TAB on Thursday, was beaten by Captain Furai first-up on the Kensington track but reversed the result after seizing the lead and defying his rival.

McEvoy said he showed a lot of fight and responded to the challenge of the runner-up, attributes he feels can take him a long way.

Trainers Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou did flag a Brisbane trip for Franz Josef after his last start win, potentially the Group 3 Winx Guineas over the mile.

“He’s a big strong fellow and it didn’t surprise me to see him win like the other day, it was pleasing to see him go out and do it from the front and handle the going,’’ McEvoy said.

“And give a little bit of a kick when the horse of Josh Parr’s got to my outside, so it showed a bit of toughness and it was a good effort.

“That was key, it was a testing day but I don’t think he is just a heavy track horse because his form last time in saw him win on a good 4.

“They’ve been patient and his best is ahead of him. He’s an interesting one to see where he gets to possibly into the spring.”

The testing ground didn’t help McEvoy’s cause on the Brad Widdup-trained Left Field at the same meeting when they ran second behind Cigar Flick just prior to the rest of the program being called off.

The filly will strike better conditions in the Precise Air Handicap (1300m) though the champion rider concedes her style means she will still need a degree of luck.

“She was back in the field and I had to cut the corner,’’ he said.

Pure Alpha runs second at Warwick Farm on May 22

“I went out with a plan to challenge between them but I ended up having to go back to the inside.

“I thought I was the winner then Cigar Flick was down the outside and full of running and up and on us at the furlong.”

Kerrin McEvoy on Step Aside (race 10): “He’s a horse that gave me a good feel in the trial, he has a good record and hasn’t been out of the money many times. He’s got a handy first-up record, he’s drawn a nice marble and I’m sure he’s chomping at the bit to get to the races. He can stalk the speed or be just a little further back and you’d like to think he has his chance to run on well.”

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