While acknowledging the rise in class, Calvin McEvoy believes the $150,000 Geelong Diamond is the right next step for promising filly Moana Spirit.

The McEvoy training partnership, headed by Tony and Calvin, is keen to assess the daughter of Tagaloa in a juvenile feature that has quickly established itself as a producer of top-line talent.

Moana Spirit lines up as one of four unbeaten runners in the 1100-metre contest, having won on debut, and McEvoy is looking forward to seeing how she handles the deeper field.

“It’s the time of the year that a lot of the horses that maybe missed the spring features are up and going now and I think she’s got a bright future, so I’m looking forward to seeing her in this race,” McEvoy said.

Recent history suggests the Geelong Diamond is a strong indicator for the Blue Diamond, with Cherish Me and Stay Focused both using the race as a springboard to elite juvenile performances.

Moana Spirit earned her place in the race with a decisive two-length win at Morphettville on December 6, a race that was reduced to three runners after favourite Inhabit suffered a setback.

The filly has since impressed again, winning an 800m jumpout at Flemington, which further boosted confidence within the stable.

“She went to Adelaide as a raw filly and won, albeit when the favourite had heart arrythmia, but still won really well and she’s taken a lot of improvement from that experience,” McEvoy said.

“She had a very nice trial in between and I think she’s in with a nice chance.”

Luke Currie will take over from Rochelle Milnes in the saddle at Geelong, where Moana Spirit sits as the well-backed second favourite behind Ghana’s Akan.

Full betting markets for the Geelong Diamond can be found on the Australian betting sites list.