Tony McEvoy is still coming to terms with Hey Doc's defeat
It may be more than three weeks since the Group One Goodwood in Adelaide but trainer Tony McEvoy is still coming to terms with Hey Doc’s defeat.
The three-year-old finished sixth in the 1200m-sprint at Morphettville on May 20, 2-1/2 lengths from the winner Vega Magic.
Hey Doc began from barrier 18 in the 20 horse field, which McEvoy blames for his defeat.
“His run was superb,” McEvoy said.
“If he had drawn a gate he’d have been right in the finish.
“He had to go back from the draw and then he had his momentum stopped in the straight at a bad time which probably cost him running a place.
“Overall we were very pleased with him.”
After a five-run campaign during which he won two races at Flemington including the Group One Australian Guineas, Hey Doc will only have a month in the spelling paddock before embarking on a spring preparation.
Hey Doc’s first target will be the Group One Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on September 2 which has had a prize money boost to $1 million.
“The Memsie is an early target,” McEvoy said.
“It’s a traditional kick-off so we’ll head towards that and then on to the Makybe Diva hopefully.”
McEvoy said the Group One Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on September 16 could be the race that shapes the rest of Hey Doc’s spring carnival.
He said options include the Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 28 or a switch to handicap races with the Group One Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield two weeks earlier.
“We’ll see how he’s performing in his early spring races and work it out from there,” McEvoy said.
