Hey Doc Wins Winterbottom Stakes 2019 for Team McEvoy

December 2, 2019

Hey Doc Wins Winterbottom Stakes 2019 for Team McEvoy

Tony McEvoy celebrated his first Group 1 victory in partnership with his son Calvin with the team’s comeback hero Hey Doc going all-the-way to score an upset 2019 Winterbottom Stakes victory in Perth on Saturday.

Hey Doc. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

Hey Doc (pictured at The Valley) broke a two year drought winning the 2019 Winterbottom Stakes in Perth. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

It had been over two years between drinks for Duporth gelding Hey Doc who went into the Group 1 $1 million Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) at Ascot winless since his Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) victory at The Valley in October 2017.

After a lengthy time on the sidelines from September of last year after undergoing surgery to remove a bone chip, the now six-year-old returned with a first-up third catching the eye at Sandown on November 16 in the Group 3 Kevin Heffernan Stakes (1300m).

Showing great natural improvement and overcoming a wide barrier 13 of 14 draw for his first WA assignment in the Winterbottom Stakes, Hey Doc was back on top with a dominant performance.

“It is special, very special,” McEvoy said post-win.

“Cal was working in Melbourne today but it is very nice to have him on board with me, and this will be the first of many I can assure you.”

Ridden to victory by a confident Luke Currie, the $13 shot in betting led from the jump and had two and a half lengths to spare on the line over the runner-up Vital Silver ($7) who suffered his first loss at the track.

“I said to Luke, ‘don’t rush, let them find their spots and then we will come across’. But he got there so easy it was incredible,” McEvoy said.

“I knew he was going to be very hard to pass.

“He was fabulous today, all the signs were telling us that. It has been a long campaign, about five months work, to get him back

“We gave him a long time with his injury and then we gave a long, slow prep, and he was very close at Sandown. He wasn’t quite there and class got him within a neck.

“To see the improvement from there to here . . . I wish I was punter, I would have had a bet.”

Adding even more value to the Winterbottom Stakes trifecta this Perth Summer Racing Carnival was the run for third from Chris Gangemi’s veteran 10-year-old Rock Magic ($31), who beat home the fourth placed favourite Trekking ($2.90) who missed the kick but made up ground late.

Currie was also thrilled with the Winterbottom Stakes result, his third Group 1 win on Hey Doc who he also partnered for the 2017 Manikato and Australian Guineas victories.

“He offset that gate by being very quick across and then he got it nice and easy in front,” the hoop said.

“He was always jogging from when I got over. He never felt like he was going to get beaten.

“For this horse to come back from 18 months off, you can’t underestimate the effort by horse and the staff.”

A potential trip to Dubai for the $2.9 million Al Quoz Sprint (1200m) at Meydan on World Cup Night – March 28 – could now be on the cards for the triple Group 1 champion Hey Doc.

2019 Winterbottom Stakes Results & Finishing Order

Place # Horse Trainer Jockey Margin Barrier Weight SP
1 3 HEY DOC Tony & Calvin McEvoy Luke Currie 13 58.5kg $13
2 10 VITAL SILVER Daniel & Ben Pearce Ben Melham 2.46L 5 58.5kg $7
3 4 ROCK MAGIC Chris Gangemi Jarrad Noske 2.69L 1 58.5kg $31
4 1 TREKKING James Cummings Kerrin McEvoy 3.1L 3 58.5kg $2.90F
5 13 FLIRTINI Simon A Miller Paul Harvey 3.22L 11 56.5kg $7
6 15 DUBIOUS Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Craig Williams 4.5L 4 53.5kg $8
7 7 VIRIDINE James Cummings Damien Oliver 4.89L 6 58.5kg $17
8 11 SPIRIT OF VALOR (USA) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Steven Parnham 5.08L 10 58.5kg $101
9 12 STAGEMAN Adam Durrant William Pike 5.12L 9 58.5kg $13
10 9 ENDLESS DRAMA (IRE) Tony Pike Leith Innes 5.41L 2 58.5kg $31
11 14 MISTY METAL Robert & Todd Harvey Shaun McGruddy 5.61L 7 56.5kg $31
12 8 VALOUR ROAD Simon A Miller Chris Parnham 5.96L 8 58.5kg $26
13 5 HOME OF THE BRAVE (IRE) James Cummings Damian Lane 7.01L 14 58.5kg $21
14 2 MALAGUERRA Vaughn Sigley Troy Turner 8.13L 12 58.5kg $71
6 DURENDAL Chris Gangemi Brad Parnham 0

Racing fields and data are copyright 2011-2021 © Racing Australia Pty Ltd (RA) (and other parties working with it).
Racing materials, including fields, form and results, is subject to copyright which is owned by RA and other parties working with it. Full copyright notice.

Spring Racing

Military Mission Fires in 2023...

Zipping Classic 2023 Field �...

Zipping Classic 2023 Field & Odds Update: Vow And Declare Defends Title

Danny O’Brien’s 2019 Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare continues to show a...

Overpass Heads 2023 Winterbott...

Overpass Heads 2023 Winterbottom Stakes Field & Betting Markets

Bjron Baker’s The Everest performer Overpass is tipped to return to winning...

Osipenko Leads The Gong 2023 R...

Osipenko Leads The Gong 2023 Race Field & Betting

The Chris Waller-trained Pierro four-year-old Osipenko is firm favourite in...

2023 Railway Stakes Field ...

2023 Railway Stakes Field & Betting Update: Tuvalu Narrow Favourite

The Lindsey Smith-trained top-weight Tuvalu is narrow favourite in the latest...

Horse Racing Today

2024 The Galaxy Results: Zapat...

Golden Slipper Results 2024: L...

Golden Slipper Results 2024: Lady Of Camelot Beats Coleman, Storm Boy Third

Co-trainer Gai Waterhouse extended her record to eight victories in the 2024...

2024 George Ryder Stakes Winne...

2024 George Ryder Stakes Winner Veight Beats Older Rivals

Veight joined an elite list of three-year-olds to beat home the older horses...

Rosehill Guineas 2024 Results:...

Rosehill Guineas 2024 Results: Riff Rocket Flies Home Late Ahead of ATC Derby

Chris Waller’s VRC Derby winner from the spring, Riff Rocket, now has the...

2024 Ranvet Stakes Results: Vi...

2024 Ranvet Stakes Results: Via Sistina Too Good Debuting for Waller

Yu Long Investments lucrative European purchase, the now Chris Waller-trained...

Race Results

2024 The Galaxy Results: Zapateo Upsets Sunshine In Paris

Golden Slipper Results 2024: Lady Of Camelot Beats Coleman, Storm Boy Third

Imperatriz Defends Title in 2024 William Reid Stakes

2024 George Ryder Stakes Winner Veight Beats Older Rivals

Rosehill Guineas 2024 Results: Riff Rocket Flies Home Late Ahead of ATC Derby

Race Previews

UK Raider Post Impressionist Heads Tancred Stakes Field & Odds

2024 Australian Cup Field & Betting Update: Pride Of Jenni v Mr Brightside

Golden Slipper 2024 Tips & Betting Update

The Galaxy 2024 Race Field & Odds: Ozzmosis Leads Betting on Slipper Day Sprint

2024 Rosehill Guineas Field & Betting Update: Riff Rocket Set to Take Off

Fields & Form

UK Raider Post Impressionist Heads Tancred Stakes Field & Odds

2024 Australian Cup Field & Betting Update: Pride Of Jenni v Mr Brightside

Golden Slipper 2024 Tips & Betting Update

The Galaxy 2024 Race Field & Odds: Ozzmosis Leads Betting on Slipper Day Sprint

2024 Rosehill Guineas Field & Betting Update: Riff Rocket Set to Take Off