Australian Guineas winning three-year-old Hey Doc could drop back in distance next month heading to Adelaide to take on a gun field of sprinters in The Goodwood 2017.
Australian Guineas winner Hey Doc could head to Morphettville in May for the 2017 The Goodwood. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
The Tony McEvoy-trained Duporth gelding enjoyed a breakthrough elite level win in early March defeating Victoria Derby winner Prized Icon in the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington.
He then took on the older milers in the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) in his maiden Sydney run on April 1, but from barrier 17 (of 20) could only manage to finish eight lengths back ninth to the winner It’s Somewhat.
Plans from McEvoy are to now freshen-up the youngster before heading to Morphettville Racecourse in South Australia for a shot at the $1 million Group 1 Darley Goodwood (1200m) on May 20.
“We’re keeping him in for a few days and see how he is and then I’ll decide whether he’ll run in The Goodwood or go to the paddock,” McEvoy told Racing Victoria on Monday.
“He’s been having a good time there at Flemington, going to the beach and enjoying himself.
“When I ask him the question I’ll know then but at the moment I’m just giving him a couple of easy weeks and then we’ll make a decision.”
Hey Doc debuted at Morphettville back in January last year saluting over 1050m at the track before racing exclusively in Victoria before the Doncaster Mile at Randwick during this season’s ‘The Championships’.
McEvoy has had just the one unplaced runner in The Goodwood, but is hoping Hey Doc can stack-up in the feature this season.
Lone Rock was the last three-year-old to beat the older sprinters in the race, Robert Smerdon’s filly scoring an upset as a $31 roughie back in 2011.
The last three-year-old colt to take out The Goodwood meanwhile was the Mick Price-trained Perfectly Ready in 2006.
Futures The Goodwood odds at Ladbrokes.com.au are firmly led by Darren Weir’s returning champion Black Heart Bart ($3.30), followed by his stablemates Voodoo Lad ($6) and Hellbent ($7).
Black Heart Bart is set to race a final time in Sydney for the autumn on Saturday in the $600,000 Group 1 Schweppes All Aged Stakes (1400m).
Last seen taking out the Group 1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) over the distance at Caulfield in late February, the six-year-old leads pre-field All Aged Stakes betting at $4.20.
Defending All Aged Stakes winner English meanwhile will have to a veterinary clearance on Thursday before she lines-up in the field on Saturday.
The Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained mare was treated for a minor laceration on Monday to her near hind hook.
As a three-year-old filly last autumn, English narrowly defeated Black Heart Bart in a thrilling edition of the All Aged Stakes on the back of a third in the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m).
This year the now four-year-old daughter of Encosta De Lago went one better in the TJ Smith Stakes results, crossing second after being run down by the now three-time champion of the Randwick sprint Chautauqua.
Check out the full The Goodwood 2017 odds and All Aged Stakes betting markets for this weekend online now at Ladbrokes.com.au.
