Tony McEvoy confident Blue Stratum can put Sydney flop behind him in Blue Diamond Preview at Caulfield

Blue Stratum is the only runner with race experience in the Blue Diamond colts and geldings preview and trainer Tony McEvoy suggests punters “put a line through” his last run.

Blue Stratum (right) was narrowly beaten by stablemate Dublin Down on debut at Flemington in the spring. Picture: Michael Klein

Co-trainer Tony McEvoy suggests punters forget promising colt Blue Stratum’s Sydney excursion when assessing Friday’s Blue Diamond Previews at Caulfield.

Blue Stratum went down narrowly to his stablemate Dublin Down on debut at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day but missed a place when favourite in the Inglis Nursery at Randwick.

Blue Stratum finished fourth, two lengths from the winner Odinson, in the $500,000 Inglis Nursery, but McEvoy said the son of Blue Point had a valid excuse for the unplaced run.

“He was fabulous at Flemington. He threw the race away, just being a bit lost down the straight,” McEvoy, who trains Blue Stratum in partnership with his son Calvin, said.

“We took him to Sydney and he bowled up to win the race over the rise and then he just disappointed me.

“I couldn’t work out why he didn’t finish the race off.

“But he pulled up with the thumps, because of the heat that day and he just got out of sorts.

“Put a line through that.”

Dublin Down takes out the first race of the day with an epic sprint! 🏇🥇#CupWeekOn10#MelbCupCarnivalpic.twitter.com/jfXpPNbqMG

— 10 Sport (@10SportAU) November 7, 2023

The stable tested Blue Stratum around Caulfield in a jumpout earlier this month.

McEvoy said the jumpout indicated Blue Stratum was ready to show his best against nine unraced rivals in Friday’s $200,000 feature.

“He’s exciting. He’s a real up-and-about two-year-old,” McEvoy said.

“His trial at Caulfield the other day on the inner track was a fabulous trial leading into a 1000m race at Caulfield.

“He’s perfect.”

Blue Stratum has eased from $4.20 to $4.60 in betting on the colts and geldings’ Blue Diamond Preview,

Sydney colt High Octane has firmed from $2.60 to $2.40 after his solid trials in his home state.

Originally published as Tony McEvoy confident Blue Stratum can put Sydney flop behind him in Blue Diamond Preview at Caulfield