Hey Doc tough task ahead

HEY Doc will have to “take it to a new level’’ to win a blockbuster Memsie Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday, according to trainer Tony McEvoy.

“It’s going to be a hell of a contest. They’ve thrown a million bucks at it and they’re all coming for it,’’ McEvoy said.

A few key factors are yet to play out. Black Heart Bart, one of a host of $7 second favourites behind Vega Magic ($4.80) in UBET markets, pulled up sore after his recent placing in the P.B. Lawrence Stakes.

It is not yet certain if he will run and his stablemate Brave Smash, who stormed into second behind Vega Magic at Caulfield recently, is at risk of being balloted.

The Memsie ballot is determined by stakes earned in the past 12 months and Brave Smash has raced just three times since May last year and earned about $170,000.

McEvoy was pleased with Hey Doc’s work between races at Moonee Valley on Saturday, saying Hey Doc was in peak form for the Memsie.

“But he’ll have to be. We are going to need everything to go right. We’re going to need to draw inside gate five and get a gun run,” he said.

“The one positive I take from the Lawrence Stakes was that Charmed Harmony ran second (to Hartnell). Quite a few of the Lawrence horses will be in the Memsie and I’d be happy to take on Charmed Harmony any day.’’

Hey Doc shares the $7 line in the Memsie with Black Heart Bart, Yankee Rose and Le Romain. Hartnell is not running.

McEvoy said Vega Magic was the horse to beat – and the gelding’s trainer David Hayes agreed.

Hayes, who will also run $31 chance Seaburge in the Memsie Stakes, said of Vega Magic: “He had 61kg and was five wide all the way.

“He’s beginning to emerge as a serious Group One horse.

“I’m confident he’s going to be the horse to beat.’’