Memsie Stakes bound Hey Doc will kick off his 2017 Melbourne Spring Carnival in the Group 3 $150,000 Aurie’s Star Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on August 12.

Hey Doc, above, is set to resume in the Aurie's Star Handicap at Flemington. Photo by Jenny Barnes.

Hey Doc, above, is set to resume in the Aurie’s Star Handicap at Flemington. Photo by Jenny Barnes.

Even though trainer Tony McEvoy is targeting some of the major Spring Carnival weight for age prizes, he will give Hey Doc a first up run under Handicap conditions before lining up in the Group 1 $1m Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on September 2.

McEvoy was happy with Hey Doc’s hit out in a Flemington jump out last Friday and again on Tuesday morning and said the newly turned four year old is ready to resume in the Aurie’s Star Handicap.

“He just did a little bit of striding work this morning (Tuesday), quite a leisurely morning for him, after his trial on Friday,” McEvoy told racing.com.

“I was very pleased with his trial, it was a very easy trial just to get some more stimulation out of him. Clearly he is a horse that I never test at home, we know how good he is.”

“He is going really well. Luke (Currie) is very pleased with him. If he pleases me over the next seven days, we will look to kick him off in the Aurie’s Star.”

“I think I will go the weight for age route. I will go the Memsie and the Makybe Diva and let the horse tell us where he will go.”

“He is a high quality horse, he is a Group 1 winner, and I think this is the time of the year that you have to find out where your path is going to take you.”

“I would like to see him in the Memsie and the Makybe Diva and then we will see where we go.”

The Group 1 $750,000 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) is run at Flemington a fortnight after the Memsie Stakes.

Hey Doc entered the limelight during the 2016 Melbourne Spring Carnival with a win in the Group 2 $200,000 Stutt Stakes (1600m) at The Valley before running third behind Divine Prophet and Seaburge in the Group 1 $1m Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield.

Hey Doc was quick to find the winner’s stall in the 2017 Melbourne Autumn Carnival with a second up win in the Group 3 $150,000 C S Hayes Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on February 18 and then backed that up with a win in the Group 1 $750,000 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on March 4.

McEvoy then headed to Sydney with the then three year old but he was well beaten on a heavy track when ninth to It’s Somewhat in the Group 1 $3m The Star Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick on April 1.

Hey Doc was then freshened up before running on strongly from the rear of the field to finish two and a half lengths sixth to Vega Magic in the Group 1 $1m Darley Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville on May 20.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.