A strong last-start win at Moonee Valley by Hey Doc has prompted trainer Tony McEvoy to step the three-year-old up in class to Group Two lelvel.
McEvoy pinpointed Friday night’s Bill Stutt Stakes (1600m) for Hey Doc after the gelding raced to 1-1/4 length win on September 3 at the same track.
“He was effective with a month between runs and effective at 1500 metres at Moonee Valley, so I thought I’d take the same path,” McEvoy said.
“A month between runs and a mile at the Valley.”
Hey Doc is on the second line of betting and while McEvoy can’t fault him, he admits he faces a tougher assignment than his two wins this campaign.
Hey Doc holds a nomination for the Caulfield Guineas which is eight days after the Stutt Stakes.
“I’d say it’s unlikely, but we’ll make that decision after the weekend,” McEvoy said.
Stablemate, multiple stakes winning mare Don’t Doubt Mamma, chases another Group Two victory in Friday night’s Stocks Stakes after winning the Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m) at Flemington.
McEvoy also had Don’t Doubt Mamma nominated for Sunday’s Blazer Stakes at Flemington but said the Valley race was a better option.
“I wanted to get her to a mile and wanted a good hit-out at a mile to make sure we’re going the right way going to the Myer Classic,” he said.
“She has run very well at Moonee Valley before and weight-for-age against mares, it’s a pretty good race for her.”
Don’t Doubt Mamma is still in entries for the Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate.
“I think our sights are probably set on the Myer but I’ll discuss it with the ownership group after the weekend,” McEvoy said.
McEvoy, meanwhile, is yet to decide whether Silvera will run in the Listed UCI Stakes (1800m) on Sunday at Flemington after drawing wide.
“Barrier 19 has thrown a bit of a spanner in the works,” he said.
