Where did it go wrong with Yellow Jersey last Saturday?

In the Listed Heatherlie Stakes at Caulfield across 1700m, the four-year-old ran seventh despite jumping as short-priced favourite.

In the leadup to the race, the Tony & Calvin McEvoy-trained import was being touted as one of the key chances to take out the prestigious Cox Plate, but now the gelding has drifted to $26 with Sportsbet.

Reflecting on the race, co-trainer Calvin McEvoy admitted he was “dumbfounded” by the disappointing run.

“He was very much under underwhelming. We left the racetrack pretty dumbfounded as to how he ran so poorly,” McEvoy told SENTrack & RSN’s Giddy Up.

“Obviously he was 1700m first-up. He's a strong horse, we knew that going in, felt that he'd done enough work and that he would relax well enough.

“He was a bit keen for the first 400-500m, and then I thought when Mark (Zahra) got him in behind, he dropped it well enough, and then never changed legs, shortened up in his action, he just looked terrible.

“Mark said he felt very average in the straight in his action. If you watch the replay, he just never changed legs, so that just meant he didn't stretch out.

“It wasn't the wet track, but whether it was just that shifty, tired, end of winter track that he didn't like.”

The co-trainer continued by asking for forgiveness from the punters, explaining that the horse is genuinely better then the performance it gave, excusing the run.

“I don't want to sound like I'm making too many excuses because we were very, very disappointed,” McEvoy said.

“He's actually pulled up quite jarred up. Like he's very muscle sore through his pectoral muscles… He was in quite a lot of pain early (when getting massaged). So, I think that was a genuine excuse.

“Along with the data through of the race, like they've gone 17 or 18 lengths quicker in the first half than what he did in Queensland. So going too fast, being too keen, it all adds up.

“I was so disappointed because we know that the horse is much better than that.

“I ask the punters to forgive him and forgive us.”

So where do the McEvoy’s take the import next?

“There is a race on the 12th, there's a 1700m open,” revealed McEvoy.

“I'd rather give him one more go at that trip before we drop him back. I just need to see that he bounces and he's feeling better in his action.”

That race the co-trainer was referring to is the Ronald McDonald House Charities Trophy Handicap, held at Flemington Racecourse on Makybe Diva Stakes Day.

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