McEvoy enjoys gulf in class

Kerrin McEvoy struck at the first time of asking this season when driving Michael Stoute’s Vodafone Derby entry Arabian Gulf home in the Xplor Maiden Stakes at Newmarket.

The opening meeting of the year on the Rowley Mile is the proper start of the turf season for many and it appeared to throw up a prospect to follow for the remainder of the campaign.

McEvoy – having his first ride in Britain for 2007 – always had the 7-1 chance in the vanguard and his mount kept on well to repel the challenge of Putra Square by a neck.

Stan James offer 100-1 about his Derby chances, but other bookmakers were more conservative and Coral offer just 33-1.

The son of Sadler’s Wells is owned by Khalid Abdullah and his racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe said: “It looks like he will stay and will get a mile and a half.

“He has wintered well, but we will take it steady with him and the Derby would be a bit of a punt at this stage.

“We will see how he progresses and it is early days yet so we will keep options open.”