2025 a winner for McEvoys
What a 2025 for trainers Tony & Calvin McEvoy!
The Caulfield – Melbourne Cups double with Half Yours followed by Calvin and Demi’s marriage concluded with a victory in the final Victorian race for the year at Flemington.
Rue De Royale took his stakemoney to $943,750 with just a second win, in the Shore Goggles Sprint (1200m).
A very consistent galloper, most times against tougher company, the four-year-old was beautifully ridden by apprentice Jackson Radley to score a comprehensive victory.
From gate one, Radley hugged the inside rail on the McEvoy-trained galloper, assumed control past the 300-metre mark to win well.
Rue De Royale ($5) scored by a half-length from Immortal Star ($10) with Shaime ($4.80 fav), 2-3/4 lengths away third.
Trainer Calvin McEvoy said the plan to stay inside helped Rue De Royale to a well-deserved victory.
“He’s been a good horse, he’s won nearly $1 million,” McEvoy said.
“But he has been a bit frustrating, only winning a Bendigo maiden before today.
“We placed him aggressively as a young horse and he has just struggled to win.
“Back in benchmark 70 grade today suited.
“We have been watching Jackson Radley ride a lot of winners and I watch him work very hard for the Lindsay Park team every morning in trackwork and we were keen to get him on.
“When he came out I said we were going to go left and he looked at me a little bit confused but credit to him, he executed beautifully.
“Tony (McEvoy) rang me, he is up in Queensland, to say to stay inside so credit to ‘Big Ton’ he was keen to do it and Jackson executed lovely.
“It was a thrill to get him back into the winner’s circle.”
Winning jockey Jackson Radley said Rue De Royale had been super in winning.
“From the moment I got on, he is a beautiful big horse,” Radley said.
“He is nice and professional and lovely to do anything with.
“Mr McEvoy kept it very simple saying Craig (Williams) had done it (stayed on the rails) in the first and to follow that plan.
“He said as long as he is in a rhythm he should run the trip out nice and strong, which he did.
“He travelled very strong early and I just let him stride when we came onto the course proper.
“When he gave a good kick at the 300, he was going to be very hard to run down.”