Evaporate faces arguably his biggest challenge of the Spring Carnival, but Lindsay Park’s Ben Hayes believes the improving gelding is ready to take on top-liners Jimmysstar and Angel Capital in Saturday’s $1 million CF Orr Stakes at Caulfield.

The four-year-old Per Incanto gelding effectively earned his Orr Stakes shot on the strength of his Golden Eagle performance, where he charged home for third in the $10 million feature. It was the race the stable had targeted from the outset, yet the way he recovered convinced Hayes he deserved another chance at elite level.

“That’s the reason we’ve decided to run, he came back from Sydney and trotted up 100 percent sound and looked a million dollars, so we had no hesitation at all,” Hayes said.

“It’s a small but very good field, but we’ve always had a high opinion of him.”

The Orr Stakes — which shifts from its traditional February position to November for the first time — offers Evaporate the opportunity to claim a maiden Group 1 win at weight-for-age.

His Golden Eagle run followed a string of excellent performances, including a narrow second in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m), which reversed his earlier win over Transatlantic in the Group 3 Sandown Stakes (1500m). He began his preparation with a solid fifth in the Group 2 PB Lawrence Stakes (1400m).

Now returning to 1400m and jumping from the second-outside stall, Hayes believes the draw may work in his favour rather than against him.

“I actually like it, I think the wide draw will work in his favour in the small field,” he said.

“Being one of the last to load will help him. It’s going to be a really tactical race. If he can jump well and, as long as he can get galloping room and get himself in a good rhythm, I think he’ll be very competitive.”

Jamie Melham, fresh off her Melbourne Cup triumph, retains the ride. The gelding jumps outside Angel Capital, with Jimmysstar tucked away in barrier three.

Check CF Orr Stakes betting markets via the JHR bookmakers list.