Although the Villiers Stakes wasn’t among original plans for Sysmo, his trainer Tony McEvoy says he is a worthy runner in the Group Two race.

Like many others, McEvoy would prefer to be running his horse on the course proper at Randwick on Saturday but said Sysmo would take his place on the Kensington track.

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The Australian Turf Club announced the switch after the course proper was inspected on Saturday amid concerns it had not recovered from a recent renovation.

Sysmo, winner of the Seymour Cup in October, was due to run in the ATC Cup last Saturday week but was ruled out with a hoof abscess.

“He had some heat in a heel which developed into an abscess so we had to treat him,” McEvoy said.

“We poulticed the abscess and it’s fine now.

“I would have preferred to run on the bigger track and I also don’t think he will be seen at his best until he gets up to 2000 metres.

“But I do think he is worthy of taking his place and James McDonald will ride.”

There were 17 entries for the Villiers which has been reduced by 50 metres to 1550m because of the track change which also means the field is restricted to 14.

Monton, winner of the race in 2011, and Alma’s Fury, who finished the closest of seconds to All Legal last year, head the nominations.

McEvoy, who divides his time between his South Australian stable and his Hawkesbury operation, has a high opinion of Sysmo and Sale Cup winning stablemate Mouro, with the pair both beginning their careers in France.

While he thought enough of Mouro to start him in the Toorak Handicap, his ambitions for Sysmo are a little lower in the short term.

“As long as he goes well I’ll continue with him and look at the Hobart Cup in the new year,” he said.

“Of course if he happened to win the Villiers that would change a lot of things.”

The winner of the Villiers gains automatic entry to the $3 million Doncaster Mile in April.