While the McEvoy stable has just had one emerging feature race prospect show his potential in the staying ranks, another proven miler has a challenge ahead to keep his career in motion after a an otherwise innocuous setting in Queensland has seen Veight battling a neck injury.
A broken bone in the gelding’s neck sustained a fortnight ago came as an unpleasant surprise to co-trainers Tony and Calvin which followed a bout of illness after last spring’s campaign.
Veight finished last in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (1200m) on May 17 though Tony McEvoy had been concerned prior to the race that the four-year-old would not handle the heavy conditions.
“He pulled up a bit jarred up and sore from that terrible run at Doomben so we decided to give him more time off,” McEvoy said.
“He had pneumonia after the Golden Eagle and we thought we’d given him enough time off but maybe we hadn’t so we turned him out in a paddock.
“Then he took a fall or did something and broken a bone in his neck.
“He did his third vertebrae which they say will heal. He was in a beautifully big paddock but with horses, you can have them in a box and they can hurt themselves.”
The four-year-old has spent time being treated at the Queensland University and they are likely take him back to Victoria next week to be cared for back home.
In 12 starts, Veight has won five of his 12 starts with two minor placings.
His career is crowned so far with victory in the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) in 2024 which was preceded by placings in the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) and the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m).
The McEvoys celebrated a win on Saturday with Half Yours taking out the Listed Caloundra Cup (2400m) at Sunshine Coast in a 4½-length romp with upcoming staying features – even the Caulfield Cup at the most optimistic thinking – on the stable’s radar.
Half Yours has been added to markets for the 2400-metre Group 1 highlight on October 18 as a $26 chance.
