DASHING DOC IN MANIKA TO BLITZ

REJUVENATED sprinter Hey Doc has joined an elite band of multiple Group 1 Manika to Stakes winners, crowning aremark able come back by breaking the 1200 mt rack record on a sizzling Valley track.

Dismissed by many as a faded force, the seven-yearold delivered a massive boost for trainers Tony and Calvin McEvoy and jockey Luke Currie, who narrowly avoided another serious injury at Gee long on Wednesday.

Joining T auto, Dual Choice, Manikato, S pinning Hill and Spark Of Life as a dual winner of the race, Hey Doc downed Trekking and Dirty Work while breaking Loving Gaby’ s race recordin1:08.76.

An emotional CalvinMcEvoyp raised the gel ding and his owners.

“I wish they were here. They’ ve been patient throughout his whole career. He’ s had a couple of set backs ,” he said.

“When he came back and won the( Group 1) Winter bottom off injury that was a special moment, but this is his fourth Group 1 now.

“There’ s not many horses that win four and it’ s a very special moment.”

Currie said :“He’ s a beauty. He puts himself on the speed and he tries heart out. He just bring site very time he comes to the races.”

On a night when forecasts of a deluge failed to ma teri alise, McEvoy’ s flag-bearer capped a meeting where three individual track records ffellll iin devastating fashion.

Michael, Wayne and John Hawk es’ in experienced sprinter Written Beauty smashed Nature Strip’ s 1000 mt rack record by scorching around the course in 56.92,

Grounds well then lowered the 1500 mt rack record to 1:28.67.

And to emphasise the lightning nature of the track, Sartorial Splendour clocked the second-fastest time–54.65– over the 955m course.

In another highlight, Danny O’ Brien’ s Iconoclasm won the V OBIS Gold Star(1500m ), triumphing for the third year in a row.

“He’s just a pillar of consistency and( to win this race) three years in a row, that is some effort from him ,” O’ Brien said.