’He’s going to be here to win,’’ he said ofHey Doc’s next assignment the Gr.2 Australia Stakes.
’I’ll possibly try him at 1400m again we might go to the Orr Stakes.. but our main aim this prep is on the 28th of March. It's Al Quoz Sprint in Dubai and we’re all pretty excited to take him over there."
Lessons from a 2003 Japan Cup effort with Fields Of Omagh will help him plan the journey better. McEvoy is already thinking about a partner horse for Hey Doc on the 11,658-kilometre trip.
"I remember when I was very green I took Fields Of Omagh to Japan for the Japan Cup and he was the only horse from Australasia," he recalled.
"We got up there and he was in a 40-horse barn on his own.
"They need friends, they're like us, so I'll be making sure that doesn't happen with Hey Doc."
"I remember when I was very green I took Fields Of Omagh to Japan for the Japan Cup and he was the only horse from Australasia,"
The group 1 1200-metre Al Quoz Sprint, won by Buffering in 2016 when it was a 1000-metre race, is worth US$2.86 million.
Asked who could partner Hey Doc on the trip, McEvoy said: "I'd have to look at the programs, even if I took a pony.
"But if I took one, I'd like to take another racehorse, to race at the race meeting, so a little bit of water to go under the bridge yet," he said.
McEvoy added that he was also trying to figure out the quarantine situation.
"My understanding is it's 48 hours there and then he's fine," he said.
"It's how we get him home; I don want to go through England to get him home so a little bit to unfold yet."
And then the moment of concern is all over and he smiles when he concludes, ‘’He’s just got to hold his form and stay happy and we’ll go on the road.’’
