Rue De Royale emerges as Stutt Stakes contender after first win

Rue De Royale is a horse everyone should look out for in the future, according to his trainer Tony McEvoy. The three-year-old mare earned his first win in a maiden race at Bendigo Racecourse on September 8. McEvoy says that race has given Rue De Royale confidence to go on to bigger and better things.

The young colt will get a chance to deliver against tougher opposition in the Group 2 Stutt Stakes at Moonee Valley on Friday. If he does well, Group 1 Races could be next.

Rue De Royale “dominates” maiden

Rue De Royale took an early lead in the Budget Car And Truck Hire Maiden Plate at Bendigo and never looked back. The $3 betting sites favourite delivered a dominant performance, winning the maiden race by a solid 2.5 lengths.

Trainer Tony McEvoy was pleased with the result and talked up his horse after the race.

“We’ve really stepped his work up and it was so nice to see him dominate that very good maiden," McEvoy said.

The trainer also said that this result will give Rue De Royale confidence to push on in other races.

“He's taken a lot of confidence from that win. It's hard to explain but if they win, they are up and about a bit more,” McEvoy explained.

Stutt Stakes preview

After his maiden win, Rue De Royale is set to take a step up in the Group 2 Stutt Stakes on Friday.

According to the betting odds, the colt is an outsider, but many racing tips for Friday pieces have Rue De Royale as one to watch in this race. His trainer agrees that the Stutt Stakes could be a strong race for the three year old.

McEvoy says Rue De Royale knows Moonee Valley well and could surprise on Friday.

“He’s been to The Valley and ran in the (Inglis) Banner there, and he’s also galloped there very well,” he said.

“He actually galloped there with Veight before his first-up run and he has trained on well since the Bendigo win.”

The betting sites give Rue De Royale $10 chance to win the Stutt Stakes. Dawn Service, the favourite, has $3.20 odds. Evaporate ($3.90), Daggers ($4.50), Henlein ($6.50), and Detroit City ($7.50) round out the other horses with better odds than Rue De Royale.

Long-term prospects

At just three-years old and with only half a season of racing behind him, Rue De Royale could be a name horse racing fans will be hearing for a long time. It might not just be in Australia either.

The New Zealand born horse could head back to his country of origin in November for the Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton. He also is potentially in the running for the new The NZB Kiwi (1500m), a $3.5 million slot race for three-year-olds and over, on 8 March 2025.

Before heading back to his home country though, Rue De Royale could get a chance to run in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas on 12 October.