‘His wheels spin’: Tony McEvoy worried about heavy track for Veight in Group 1 Doomben 10,000

A potential heavy track and Veight’s lack of fitness have trainer Tony McEvoy downplaying his Doomben 10,000 chances.

Tony McEvoy is worried about the prospect of a heavy surface for Saturday’s Group 1 Doomben 10,000, lamenting that Veight’s “wheels spin” on bottomless tracks.

The Victorian trainer also admits that Group 1 champion Veight is behind in his preparation for the Queensland winter carnival and should improve significantly from the 1200m run at Doomben.

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With showers predicted in Brisbane for Friday and Saturday, it would not surprise if the Doomben track is downgraded to heavy on race day.

“He’s won on soft ground but his wheels spin on heavy tracks,” McEvoy said about Veight, who was $34 to win the Doomben 10,000 on Friday morning.

“If it’s heavy it’ll take a few lengths off him but if it’s in the soft range then he’ll be fine.

“I’d say the conditions are his biggest threat.”

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Veight was gelded after the $10m Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens in November when he finished second-last out of 20 runners following a poor spring campaign by his high standards.

He was flying in the autumn last year, finishing runner-up to now retired stallion Southport Tycoon in the $1m Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) before winning his only major, the George Ryder Stakes (1500m).

Trainer Tony McEvoy says Veight will likely struggle if the track is in the heavy range for Saturday’s Group 1 Doomben 10,000. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

“He had probably his first really good, long spell, he’s come back gelded and he’s a different horse now,” said McEvoy, who trains in partnership with his son Calvin.

“He’s a bit behind where I was hoping to be with him to be quite honest coming into the 10,000. He’ll run well but I think he’ll show nice improvement out of this race.

“He just hasn’t come up as quickly as I thought he would. He’s very good fresh, he’s three (wins) from four, but to my eye I reckon he’s going to need this run.”

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McEvoy said the decision to geld Veight was made easier after his stallion prospects dwindled, despite his triumph in the George Ryder Stakes last year.

“When you win a Group 1 you’d like the phone to ring and the phone just wasn’t ringing,” the Ballarat trainer said.

“He obviously didn’t have what people wanted so that made the gelding decision a bit easier.

“When you’ve got a colt with a nice pedigree and they win a proper Group 1 like the George Ryder, normally there’s a bit of money attached to those but not in this case.”

With regular rider Damian Lane away on a short-term contract in Japan, local jockey Andrew Mallyon will be on board Veight for the Doomben 10,000.

“He’s not a hard horse to ride. Andrew’s ridden a lot for me over the years so I’m happy to have him on,” McEvoy said.

The trainer is confident that Veight will be back to his best for the Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup (1300m) in a fortnight and then hopefully the Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) on June 14.

“I can’t see why not. The horse seems normal to me at home. I think he’s got a very good chance of getting back to that form,” McEvoy said.

Originally published as ‘His wheels spin’: Tony McEvoy worried about heavy track for Veight in Group 1 Doomben 10,000