For hobby breeder Adrian Hall, the return of dual Group 1 winner Hey Doc in Saturday's Listed Carlyon Stakes at Moonee Valley is the latest step on what the cabinet maker from Yarram in Victoria describes as 'a great ride'.
The Hey Doc (Duporth {Aus}) journey for Hall started back in 2010 when he paid $3500 for a half share in a General Nediym mare named Heyington Honey at the Melbourne August Thoroughbred Sale.
"I bought a half share in his dam and ended up buying the whole lot of her. The first foal she had was a Congrats (USA) filly, which I kept to race, and Hey Doc was the second foal," Hall told TDN AusNZ.
Hall was immediately impressed with that second foal and knew he had a good candidate for the yearling sales on his hands.
Hey Doc sold for $85,000 at the 2015 Melbourne Premier Sales and Hall's first move was to talk to purchaser Tony McEvoy about maintaining a share.
He kept 10 per cent and given Hey Doc has since gone on to win over $1.7m, including victories in the G1 Australian Guineas and G1 Manikato S., it has proven a great decision.
WATCH: 2017 G1 Australian Guineas
Ready to give it up
He also knew that Hey Doc would be the last foal from Heyington Honey, who had tragically died on Melbourne Cup Day 2014 along with her foal by Your Song (Aus).
That setback was a big one for Hall, who freely admits he was ready to give the breeding game away at that point.
"I was down to zero (mares) after that. Not only was she my best mare, but she was my favourite, so I thought I'd get out of it," he said.
"I was down to zero (mares) after losing Heyinton Honey. Not only was she my best mare, but she was my favourite, so I thought I'd get out of it," Adrian Hall
"But then one of my race mares (Melodramatic) bowed a tendon and she went straight to the breeding barn and we utilised the free return from Your Song from the foal that had died."
That Your Song - Melodramatic (Al Samer {Aus}) colt sold at this year's Melbourne Premier Sale for $80,000 to Lindsay Park Racing, and like he did with Hey Doc, Hall has maintained a share.
Your Song x Melodramatic colt from Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale 2018
Siblings coming through
The family of Hey Doc also lives on through his decision to keep the older half-sister, named Heather Honey (Congrats {USA}).
He now has five mares, with Heather Honey set to foal to Street Boss (USA) this spring and then visit Exceed and Excel {Aus), while also he has a half-sister to Heyington Honey, You Will Be Queen (Kaphero {Aus}).
"I bought her from Western Australia. She was a city-winning mare over there and is in foal to Lonhro and due to foal late next month," he said.
The Hey Doc ride has also yielded another benefit as Hall subsequently became a part owner of McEvoy's rising star Dollar For Dollar (High Chaparral {Ire}), who won the G3 Spring Stakes at Morphettville last Saturday.
WATCH: Hey Doc takes out the 2017 G1 Manikato S.
Hall's focus this week is on Hey Doc's return over the 1000m at Moonee Valley, the track where he caused that memorable upset in last year's Manikato S.
"From what he's shown, all the word is he is back at his best. " - Adrian Hall
Hall said from all reports Hey Doc has recovered well from a setback suffered in the Lightning S. in the autumn and he is ready for a big spring campaign.
"He tore or strained his pec muscles, which was his only run in the autumn. He's had a good long spell and we’re looking forward to having him back," he said.
"From what he's shown, all the word is he is back at his best. He's probably heavier than he has ever been in his life because it’s the longest spell he's ever had."
