A late decision to bring Pelicano on a road trip from Adelaide to Sydney paid dividends for trainer Tony McEvoy when the four-year-old claimed Saturday's Parramatta Cup.

The Listed 2000m race wasn't on McEvoy's radar but part-owner Rodney Rae rang him and pointed out the race seemed like an ideal target.

Glyn Schofield took the initiative on Pelicano ($6) early in the heavy conditions and the gelding had plenty left at the business end of the race to hold off Kaypers ($7.50) by 1-1/4 lengths with favourite Frozen Rope ($2.45) another long neck third.

"One of the owners Rodney Rae sent me a text and said we should put him in the Parramatta Cup as a late entry," McEvoy said.

"The horse has done a tremendous job. We left at 7am on Thursday, stopped at Wagga for four hours and then came to Sydney and he's raced on ground he's never been on.

"We originally had him entered for the Launceston Cup but things got a bit tight so we looked for other options."

Among the future options for Pelicano is the Sydney Cup but McEvoy is unsure whether he is a true stayer.

"He's a very relaxed horse and the Sydney Cup is there if he keeps going as well as is now," he said.

"But we'll take it one step at a time. The Randwick City Stakes over 2200 metres will be his likely next race.

"The Sydney Cup is a small chance and if it happened to be wet, well now we know he can handle it."

Schofield said he decided to be positive from the outset and Pelicano was strong to the line.

"At the 200 metres he gave more and he was never going to get beaten," he said.

The Listed Randwick City Stakes is at Warwick Farm in two weeks and the Manion Cup, a Listed race over 2400 metres on March 30 will determine whether Pelicano progresses to the Group One Sydney Cup (3200m) at the end of next month.