Ballarat trainers Tony and Calvin McEvoy are hoping they are in for an exiting spring with promising three-year-old Rue De Royale, with the ultimate goal being to gain a slot in next year’s $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m).

Bred by Little Avondale Stud, Rue De Royale is by their resident stallion Per Incanto, and he was offered through Sledmere Stud’s 2023 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale draft where he was purchased by McEvoy Mitchell Racing Pty Ltd and Belmont Bloodstock Agency for A$180,000.

Rue De Royale has proven to be an astute buy for the McEvoys, with the colt taking the father-and-son training duo to the pinnacle of juvenile racing in Australasia last season.

While he didn’t win a race as a two-year-old, Rue De Royale finished runner-up in the A$2 million Inglis Millenium (1100m), A$1 million Inglis Golden Gift (1100m) and Gr.2 VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m), and earned his place into the Gr.1 Golden Slipper (1200m) and Gr.1 Blue Diamond (1200m), where he finished 12^th and 10^th respectively.

The McEvoys have been pleased with the way Rue De Royale has returned as a three-year-old, breaking through for his maiden victory second-up over 1300m at Bendigo earlier this month.

“He always looked like he was going to be a better three-year-old, but he was just so natural as a two-year-old and got us to all the big races,” Calvin McEvoy said. “He was placed in a A$1 million race, a A$2 million race, and then got us to the Blue Diamond and Golden Slipper.

“He has been a dream for connections. He lost the maiden tag the other day and I am sure he will win a really good race at some point.”

Rue De Royale will get his first opportunity of the spring to score a stakes scalp at The Valley next Friday in the Gr.2 Stutt Stakes (1600m), with his performance in the race dictating the remainder of his spring path.

All going to plan, Rue De Royale will contest the Gr.1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) on October 12 before returning to his homeland to tackle the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiword Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton Park on November 9, with the winner securing the Canterbury Jockey Club’s slot in the inaugural $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) at Ellerslie on March 8.

“We are giving good consideration to running in the Caulfield Guineas and we just thought the 2000 Guineas might be a really nice option,” McEvoy said. “He is by Per Incanto and what we would love is to get him a spot in The Kiwi.”

McEvoy said The NZB Kiwi is a great concept, and while a slot in the race was a major drawcard to contest the 2000 Guineas, so was the $650,000 prizemoney on offer in the three-year-old feature.

“What a great initiative, they are really keeping up with the times, and these slot races are all over the world now,” he said. “It is great money. We thought the money for the Guineas was fantastic at $650,000 as well. It is at the same time as The Carbine Club (A$500, Gr.3, 1600m) so it is certainly a good opportunity to give him another opportunity at Group One level for a colt, for more money.

“We have got a really well-bred colt that would be a live chance in a Group One.”