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The search for a Group 1 has led talented colt Veight into Saturday’s $1m The Agency George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill and co-trainer Calvin McEvoy is quietly confident he’s found his sweet spot.
Just falling short in two mile Group 1s has Calvin McEvoy thinking the Rosehill 1500m will be right up the colt's alley and while chasing that Group 1 can also serve as a potential pointer to his chances in the $10m Golden Eagle later in the year.
McEvoy, who co-trains with his father Tony, said Veight appears well placed though concedes it is a strong edition of the Ryder.
"Maybe that last 100m of the mile sees him out a bit, he's run second in both Guineas down here so 1500m is going to suit,'' he said.
"His racing style will put him in a really good spot, he begins cleanly out of the gates and he can race up near the pace. I think that's going to take him a long way.
"I think he's drawn perfectly, a few of the more fancied runners have drawn poorly."
Veight, $11 with TAB on Thursday, won the Australia Stakes first-up before a creditable fourth in the Group 1 CF Orr Stakes behind Mr Brightside.
As McEvoy mentioned, he found Southport Tycoon a shade stronger at the mile in the Australian Guineas three weeks ago in a run he says suggested he's still improving.
"The day we were beaten by Southport Tycoon that horse went to a new peak and our horse went to a new peak, so he's on the way up,'' he said.
"I believe he's a Group 1 quality colt and we're hoping Saturday is his day.
"He's beaten the older horses at weight-for-age level in Group 2 company. This is harder again, we think he's good enough, and I'm confident he'll run a really good race."
The McEvoys have dual representation in the Group 1 $5m TAB Golden Slipper (1200m) with Pago Pago Stakes winner Dublin Down backing up and Rue De Royale returning to Sydney after a luckless second at Flemington two weeks ago.
Dublin Down led all the way last week and McEvoy said while he's an outsider in the market he's earned his chance at the two-year-old classic.
"He's really bounced through it, we're very pleased with him. He hasn't left an oat since the race on Saturday,'' he said.
"Owners chase the dream to have a runner, they've got a colt that's qualified and in great form.
"Some horses really do handle a tough back up, some horses don't. I think he will but we won't know until we get there on the day.
"He's earned his chance, a few of the horses behind him last week were quite fancied. There's no doubt he needs to improve but he's on an upward trajectory."
Rue De Royale is still a maiden after five starts but he's run three seconds including at Rosehill back in November when he chased home Shangri La Express in the Golden Gift.
He added a second in the Inglis Millennium in February and chased home Traffic Warden in the VRC Sires' where he didn't see clear air until the race was over.
"He's a really nice horse. He was unlucky the other day in the Sires' at Flemington, it's hard to know whether we would have beaten him but our horse only got out in the final furlong,'' he said.
"I think he's certainly being overlooked."
