While the McEvoy stable celebrated the emergence of a staying prospect last weekend, they are facing a tougher challenge with proven miler Veight, who has suffered a neck injury under unusual circumstances in Queensland.

Veight, a multiple Group 1 performer, sustained a fractured vertebra two weeks ago while turned out following his disappointing run in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (1200m) on May 17. Co-trainers Tony and Calvin McEvoy were shocked by the injury, which came shortly after a prior health scare.

“He pulled up a bit jarred up and sore from that terrible run at Doomben so we decided to give him more time off,” Tony McEvoy said.

“He had pneumonia after the Golden Eagle and we thought we’d given him enough time off but maybe we hadn’t so we turned him out in a paddock.

“Then he took a fall or did something and broken a bone in his neck.

“He did his third vertebrae which they say will heal. He was in a beautifully big paddock but with horses, you can have them in a box and they can hurt themselves.”

Veight is currently being treated at the University of Queensland and is expected to return to Victoria in the coming days for continued recovery under the care of the McEvoy team.

The four-year-old has compiled an impressive record in just 12 starts, winning five times and placing twice. His standout performance came with victory in the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) earlier this year, adding to placings in the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) and the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m).

Meanwhile, the stable was buoyed by the dominant win of Half Yours in the Listed Caloundra Cup (2400m) at the Sunshine Coast, where he scored by 4½ lengths. That performance has seen him added to betting markets for the Group 1 Caulfield Cup on October 18, where he is a $26 chance.

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