Luke Currie rides Hey Doc to victory in the 2017 Manikato Stakes (Image: Racing Photos)
The Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes (1200m) proved to be drama from before the start until well after the finish as Hey Doc eventually got another Group 1 notch to his belt.
The point of contention in the protest was at the 1000m mark when Luke Currie crossed on Hey Doc, with Vega Magic in between horses and In Her Time on the rail.
After a furlong, Vega Magic reacted to Hey Doc's movement and made contact with In Her Time, while Corey Brown on the Ben Smith-trained mare held her spot and was beaten a head by Hey Doc.
All this after the race start was delayed by several minutes as both English and Chautauqua were removed from the gates to be vetted - and the 2015 Manikato winner Chautauqua was subsequently scratched at the gates, with confusion reigning as to whether or not he had been passed fit.
Most punters pictured Vega Magic taking up the running in the Manikato, but Hey Doc was able to cross him - and he was tough in the end – as winning trainer Tony McEvoy put the result down to the fitness his horse had held over from his preparation for the Makybe Diva Stakes.
WATCH: Hey Doc win the Manikato Stakes
"He had a great base fitness - I just had to get his mind right, I just had to freshen him, and that base fitness - we needed it tonight - and it was there," McEvoy said.
McEvoy has hit the G1 heights in recent seasons after a long spell out of the top level. Hey Doc was the drought-breaker for McEvoy in the Australian Guineas - and he paid credit to his large team, with his 2IC's Michael Shepherdson and son Calvin McEvoy his literal right-hand men on Friday night too.
And Tony said he is looking forward to his son eventually taking over the business.
"I'm not sure he's going to need me for much longer if you ask him," McEvoy quipped.
"I get such pleasure out of having Calvin on my team, and I can't wait for him to grow up a bit more and he can take over and I can sit at the back.
"We've got plenty to go - we're building a really good brand, a really good team, a lot of people to thank, it's a big team and I'm lucky enough to get up on the podium occasionally.
"Our staff across two states do an outstanding job."
Hey Doc remains unbeaten at Moonee Valley from three starts around the track, and McEvoy said they will push on to the G1 Darley Classic (1200m) on the final day of the Flemington carnival.
Racing Victoria stewards later confirmed Chautauqua was scratched after getting his leg caught over the barrier, and trotted up lame, but connections did not want to comment post-race.
Chris Waller, Hugh Bowman et al would be hoping that the dramas will have maxed out in the Manikato, and that Tony McEvoy in particular was done causing boilovers in the feature this Cox Plate Carnival.