Tony McEvoy won two juvenile stakes in Melbourne over the spring carnival and he was pleased to report on Friday morning that the pair of Aspect and Azazel are on track to contest the state's richest juvenile race, the Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield, in five weeks.
Last week, Azazel, who impressively won the Inglis race at Moonee Valley on Cox Plate day, trialled well at Pakenham and on Friday it was Aspect's turn to prove he too had returned from his summer spell in the right condition.
"I was very pleased with him," McEvoy said at Friday's jump-outs.
"He looked to be a little unsure on the wet ground early - I thought he'd show a little bit more speed - but he built very strongly through to the finish of the trial to figure in the finish and so I thought it was very pleasing."
WATCH: Aspect's jump-out on Friday
McEvoy, who has enjoyed a most profitable season so far with his young team, said he intends to split up the colts on their way to the $1.5million race on February 25.
"I think I'll run him (Aspect) first-up in the Chairman's - it's the race between the (Blue Diamond) Preview and the Prelude," he said.
"The timing of that race suits better as he's a light-fleshed horse and I think he only needs one run going into the Diamond."
Azazel will step out a week earlier in the Blue Diamond Preview at Caulfield.
"He trialled very nicely down at Pakenham and he's come out of that trial beautifully," McEvoy said.
"He's just got one more piece of work to get through (before he resumes)."
WATCH: Azazel's trial on January 13
The trainer said he had noticed a physical change in both colts from the spring.
"They've grown and strengthened and I think they've improved as most of them have out of the spring to now - they get stronger and better.
"But I think these two will hold their place pretty well."
CrownBet had marked Aspect a $15 chance to claim the state's leading juvenile race while Azazel is at $26.