Rue De Royale appears poised to make a bid for the prestigious Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) following his impressive runner-up performance behind Fully Lit in the Inglis Millennium (1100m).
Initially considering a campaign in Sydney after the weekend’s endeavours, co-trainer Calvin McEvoy revealed a change in plans, emphasising the strong likelihood of targeting the $2 million Melbourne feature.
In an interview with Racing.com, McEvoy expressed his inclination towards aiming for the Blue Diamond.
“I’m tempted to run him in the Blue Diamond,” said Calvin McEvoy, who trains in partnership with his father Tony.
“He ran so well but a race like the Millennium is very tough to win first-up, especially when you’re up against hard-fit horses from Gai Waterhouse’s stable.”
“He’s at home, he’s back in Ballarat and there are a couple of options with him.
“He can go a month between runs into the Todman in Sydney and focus on the Slipper, or we go two weeks into the Diamond and think about the Slipper after that.
“That is what we’re leaning towards at the moment.”
Following his return run, Ru De Royale is a -666.67 hope for the Blue Diamond Stakes on February 24 with top horse racing bookies.
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