Hey Doc fresh in Sandown race day gallop

Dual Group One winner Hey Doc has shown his freshness in a race day gallop at Sandown which both his trainer and jockey are sure will bring him on ahead of his return to racing.

Hey Doc was sent out for a hit-out in company with stablemate Manuel between races on Wednesday’s Sandown program and the gelding wanted to get on with the job from the outset.

Jockey Luke Currie had intended to sit off Manuel early in the gallop but said Hey Doc was fresh and pulled hard to be almost up outside his workmate earlier than planned.

Hey Doc strode up in the straight before Manuel just had his nose marginally back in front as they crossed the line at the end of the work-out.

A winner of the Australian Guineas and Manikato Stakes at Group One level in 2017, Hey Doc has not raced since his unplaced performance in the Lightning Stakes in February due to an injury to his pectoral muscles.

“He went past the other horse then just got a bit tired late. I wanted to actually follow behind the other horse but I couldn’t hold him so he gave me a good work-out too,” Currie said.

Trainer Tony McEvoy said Hey Doc would be ready for his scheduled return on Saturday week in the Carlyon Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley.

A defence of his Group One Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley in October is a spring aim.