Hey Doc adds another chapter to Victoria’s Spring fairytale

For a horse who Tony McEvoy found it difficult to sell shares in, after purchasing him at the 2015 Inglis Melbourne Premier sale for $85,000, there is no doubt that the lucky owners who did purchase a share are delighted with their decision.

After adding his second consecutive Manikato win on Friday night to his three Group 1s, this brought his earnings to over $3 million dollars in prizemoney.

Not only did Hey Doc impressively add a second consecutive Manikato Stakes to his resume on Friday, he also added the title of track record holder for the race as well.

The last track record was set in 2006 when Miss Andretti claimed the title in 1:09:29 seconds. On Friday, Hey Doc nailed it in 1:08:76.

But like all good stories, this one didn’t start only a few years ago, it started much earlier than that.

Adrian is from a small town in Gippsland known as Yarram. With a population at the last census of just over 2000 people, it is known as a farming district who are dedicated to sporting culture.

It is known as the home of several AFL footballers, such as Royce Vardy, Anthony Banik (Tigers), Andrew Dunkley (Sydney Swans) and Jed Lamb (Carlton).

More recent names include, Josh Dunkley (Western Bulldogs), Nathan Vardy (West Coast Eagles) and Kyle Dunkley (Melbourne Demons).

But never would it have been imagined, that a sporting superstar of the four-legged kind would emanate from this small country town, 220 km east of Melbourne.

Adrian who operated a small cabinet building business had a passion for breeding a few race horses on the side. Adrian’s father Brian Hall is a trainer.

In 2010, together they attended an Inglis mixed sale in Melbourne to buy a couple of General Nediym mares. Never in their wildest dreams did they think they would one day be celebrating multiple Group 1 wins out of one of their horses.

Adrian mated his General Nediym mare, Heyington Honey with Dupworth. The first foal was a mare named Heather Honey. The second? Well, I think you already know the answer.

For commercial reasons, Adrian put the foal, a Duporth colt (now gelding) through the Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale via the Rosemont Stud draft, where Tony McEvoy and Yarrawonga-based business partner Wayne Mitchell paid $85,000 for him.

One of the wisest decisions Gippsland hobby breeder Adrian Hall made was to retain a share in the Dupworth colt now known as Hey Doc. Retaining 10% of Hey Doc, several other family members also bought in.

His breeder Adrian Hall was elated after the race, commenting; “It’s just amazing especially after what he has been through, with a year off the scene with an injury. I give full credit to the McEvoy team and Luke Currie.”

“I don’t think I will see another horse like him. At the time, I only had two broodmares on my farm and I have increased my broodmare band because of him,” Adrian said.

Speaking the morning after Hey Doc’s second consecutive Manikato win in a message to his owners in his stable, Tony McEvoy said, “We were up and about last night – how exciting for everyone involved. My team, my staff here (Adelaide) and my staff in Melbourne.

“Originally, I couldn’t sell him. He was one of the last horses to be sold and here he is now winning four Group 1s,” Tony McEvoy commented.

“What a ride this horse has given us. What a warrior – a superstar. It is a very big emotional win for us,” McEvoy commented.

And indeed, the emotion could be felt by all those at home, when his strapper, Camille could be heard screaming in delight as he hit the line. Camille has been by Hey Doc’s side for years and this win means just as much to her as anyone else.

Adrian Hall could not speak higher of Camille commenting, “I spoke to Camille about ten minutes after the race and she was still in tears. Camille just loves him. She is amazing and she adores him. Although he loves her as much as she loves him. I don’t think he would be the same without her and he knows exactly who she is.”

Hey Doc is just another example of an exceptional Victorian race horse to grace our tracks this Spring Carnival.

Team Vic have been notching up exceptional wins on the scoreboard and creating fairytales everywhere you look.

Afterall, isn’t this what racing is about? The fairytales which are to the next generation  many years after they occur.