Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
The Ballarat-based father and son duo, Tony and Calvin McEvoy, enjoyed a successful 2023/24 season, highlighted by Group 1 stars Coco Sun (The Autumn Sun) and Veight (Grunt {NZ}), along with several promising younger horses.
When asked who the TTR AusNZ audience should keep an eye on, Tony McEvoy mentioned that it was still too early to highlight any 2-year-olds from his stable. However, he expressed excitement about the prospects of three 3-year-olds.
Calvin and Tony McEvoy | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“There are three that have proven themselves at this level, and that’s Dublin Down, Rue De Royale, and Arabian Summer,” McEvoy shared.
Dublin Down, a colt by Vinery’s second-season sire Exceedance, was a $370,000 purchase by McEvoy Mitchell Racing and Belmont Bloodstock Agency (FBAA) from the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, where he was presented by Edinburgh Park.
“There are three that have proven themselves at this level, and that’s Dublin Down, Rue De Royale, and Arabian Summer.” - Tony McEvoy
The colt hails from the dual Listed winner Dublin Lass (O’Reilly {NZ}). Dublin Down won twice as a 2-year-old. He finished fourth on debut in the Listed Maribyrnong Trial S. and then claimed victory in the G3 Maribyrnong Plate on Melbourne Cup Day.
The colt returned in the autumn to win the G3 Pago Pago S. before contesting the G1 Golden Slipper S., where things didn’t go his way.
Regarding Dublin Down's spring campaign, McEvoy said, “We’ll kick him off in the Poseidon S. on September 14, and then that’ll tell us whether we’ve got a Coolmore horse on our hands or not. I think we’ll keep him sprinting at the moment and let him tell us what works for him.
Dublin Down | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“He won a lead-up to the Golden Slipper (G3 Pago Pago S.) and then ran in the Golden Slipper but came out of it with an entrapped epiglottis. So, he’s a very good colt, and he trialled up really nicely at Cranbourne just the other day.”
Arabian on standby
It hasn’t been smooth sailing for the McEvoys' talented filly, Arabian Summer (Too Darn Hot {GB}), as she embarks on her spring campaign. Originally slated to return in the Listed Lightning S. in Adelaide, Arabian Summer was scratched at the barriers.
Upon returning to Melbourne, she was aimed at the G3 Quezette S. at Caulfield. However, another untimely setback occurred when the daughter of Too Darn Hot (GB) developed abscesses in both forefeet.
Arabian Summer | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Taking a cautious approach, McEvoy has planned races beyond the spring, should the filly require more time. “It really was a shame she missed the Lightning. Then we came back for the Quezette, and she got a sore foot,”
McEvoy explained. “She hasn’t had much luck, so we’re just going to make a decision in the next week on where she goes. The main target for me for Arabian Summer is the Sunlight S. in January at the Gold Coast.
“It’s the new slot race, and that would be a nice target for her. So, we may not see her run in the early spring. She might step out later in the spring into that race. But I’m not sure; we’re going to give her another week and then decide which way to go.”
“She (Arabian Summer) hasn’t had much luck, so we’re just going to make a decision in the next week on where she goes. The main target for me for Arabian Summer is the Sunlight S.” - Tony McEvoy
Commenting on the frustrations that come with training horses, McEvoy joked, “That’s why trainers drink!”
Arabian Summer was one of the standout performers for her Darley-based sire, who was later crowned the Champion First Season Sire in Australia. She won the Ballarat Magic Millions 2YO Classic, the Gold Pearl, and the $1 million R. Listed Magic Millions National 2YO Classic.
She also placed in the G3 Ottawa S. and the Listed Debutant S. Arabian Summer was a $220,000 purchase by McEvoy Mitchell Racing and Belmont Bloodstock Agency (FBAA) from the draft of Coolmore Stud at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Rue Du Royale: Chasing maiden victory but all quality
Rue Du Royale (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) is still chasing his maiden victory after eight starts, despite placing in three of them. However, the 3-year-old colt showed plenty of promise as a 2-year-old, and McEvoy is confident that he’ll make his mark this spring.
The son of Per Incanto (USA) returned on Saturday, finishing fifth to Draggers (I Am Invincible) at Moonee Valley. “He ran very, very well. The way the race was run was just horrendous for him, but he’s going very well,” McEvoy said.
Rue Du Royale (NZ) | Image courtesy of Inglis
“So, he’ll run in a maiden now at Bendigo, and then we’ll see where he wants to take us—whether it’s the Golden Rose or the Caulfield Guineas. However, since he still hasn’t broken his maiden, that’s our main aim.
“That was what we planned to do before Moonee Valley, but we drew barrier 20 at Sale. So, we scratched from there and went to the open race on Saturday, and while he didn’t figure, he ran beautifully.”
Rue Du Royale was a $180,000 purchase by McEvoy Mitchell Racing and Belmont Bloodstock Agency (FBAA) from the draft of Sledmere Stud at the 2023 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. He has placed in the G2 Sires’ Produce, the R. Listed Inglis 2YO Millennium, and the Golden Gift.
“So, he’ll (Rue Du Royale) run in a maiden now at Bendigo, and then we’ll see where he wants to take us—whether it’s the Golden Rose or the Caulfield Guineas.” - Tony McEvoy
Rue Du Royale also finished fourth in the R. Listed Inglis Banner and has earned his connections more than $600,000 in prize money.
Significant investment
Although McEvoy didn’t have any 2-year-olds to spotlight, it’s worth noting that the stable made significant investments during the sales earlier this year.
Among their purchases is a filly by Vinery Stud’s first-season sire, Ole Kirk, out of the More Than Ready (USA) mare Fashion Icon. The filly was acquired for $180,000 by McEvoy Mitchell Racing and Belmont Bloodstock Agency (FBAA) from Tyreel Stud’s draft at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Fashion Icon is from the Listed winner Catalonia (Flying Spur) and is a half-sister to the R. Listed Inglis Banner victress Espaaniyah (I Am Invincible).
Ole Kirk x Fashion Icon (filly) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
McEvoy Mitchell Racing and Belmont Bloodstock Agency (FBAA) also purchased a colt by Zoustar for $150,000 from Lucas Bloodstock at the same sale. The colt is out of the Lonhro mare Precautions, who is a daughter of the G1 Coolmore Classic winner Regal Cheer (Arena) and a half-sister to the Listed victor Knoydart (More Than Ready {USA}).
Additionally, McEvoy Mitchell Racing and Belmont Bloodstock Agency (FBAA) paid $130,000 for a filly by North Pacific from the draft of Riversdale at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. The filly is out of the Zoustar mare Glamarama. Glamarama comes from the family of G1 winner Aloha (Encosta De Lago) and her high-class progeny Libertini (I Am Invincible), who won the G2 Premiere S. and was multiple Group 1-placed, as well as her full brother Hawaii Five Oh, who won two Group 3 races and was also Group 1-placed.
Coco Caulfield dreaming
On Saturday, the McEvoys' G1 South Australian Derby winner, Coco Sun, will resume in Race 10 at Caulfield over 1400 metres. The daughter of The Autumn Sun has drawn Barrier 8 and will be ridden by Blake Shinn.
Coco Sun | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Speaking about her spring ambitions, McEvoy shared, “She's great; very good. We're very happy with Coco Sun, and we're hopeful that we can get her on a path towards the G1 Caulfield Cup. She may find the 1400 metres a little bit sharp, but it’s a good kick-off for her."
The stable’s other star performer, Veight, is likely to resume in the G1 Manikato S. "He’s ready to resume in the G1 Manikato S. at Moonee Valley at the end of September. He had a very easy trial at Cranbourne the other day, and while it looked very plain, we were very pleased with Veight.
“She's great; very good. We're very happy with Coco Sun, and we're hopeful that we can get her on a path towards the G1 Caulfield Cup.” - Tony McEvoy
“He did exactly what we needed. After the Manikato, Veight may possibly go to the Silver Eagle and then the Golden Eagle. As a 3-year-old, Veight beat the older horses in the G2 Australia S. and the G1 George Ryder, so he’s a high-class, elite animal, and there’s more to come.”
