Tony McEvoy has the Aurie's Star Handicap in mind for Hey Doc's season return
Tony McEvoy has the Aurie’s Star Handicap in mind for Hey Doc’s new season return and the trainer will use a jump-out at Flemington to re-acquaint the Group One winner with the straight course.
Hey Doc will have his first jump-out of the preparation on Friday morning in an 800m heat down the Flemington straight and McEvoy said it would only be a quiet trial for the rising four-year-old.
“He’s not going to be tested in the jump-out at all but I just wanted to familiarise him again with the Flemington straight because I’m considering running him in the Aurie’s Star,” McEvoy said.
“The Aurie’s Star into the Memsie into the Makybe Diva Stakes is the early little program provided the horse tells me he’s going well enough.”
The Group Three Aurie’s Star (1200m) on August 12 is three weeks before the $1 million Group One Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.
Hey Doc won the CS Hayes Stakes (1400m) and Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington this season while his only attempt in a straight race there was a close second to Lessyd as a two-year-old.
Hey Doc only had three weeks in the paddock after his sixth in the Group One Goodwood (1200m) in May but McEvoy said the gelding was bright and well and in great order as he builds up for the spring.
Caulfield Guineas favourite Royal Symphony has had a freshen-up since winning the Taj Rossi Series Final on July 8 and McEvoy said the unbeaten colt cantered under saddle for the first time since on Thursday.
“He was as excited doing it as I was watching him,” he said.
McEvoy is looking at the Listed Exford Plate (1400m) at Flemington on September 16 as Royal Symphony’s spring reappearance.
“It’s not in concrete but I thought the Exford Plate would be a good kick-off and then we’ve got the Bill Stutt Stakes if we want in between and then the Guineas,” he said.
