AUSTRALIAN Bloodstock’s Luke Murrell is still trying to come to terms with the purchase of one of Europe’s top stayers, Torcedor, for the Melbourne Cup.

“We believe he’s one of the best-credentialed horses available for this year’s Melbourne Cup, so we’re thrilled to have got him,” Murrell said on Monday.

“We wanted to buy a horse which could win the Melbourne Cup, not just run in it, and it’s been a struggle.

“To be brutally honest, there was only a handful of horses you could get to win a Melbourne Cup and now we’ve got one of them.”

Australian Bloodstock won the 2014 Melbourne Cup with German stayer Protectionist.

Since Australian Bloodstock’s purchase was confirmed, Torcedor has firmed from $26 to $17 for the Melbourne Cup with TAB. Murrell said it made an inquiry to Torcedor’s owner Te Akau Racing a month ago and secured him late last week.

“As far as ability goes in terms of horses we’ve bought, he’s got more exposed form than anyone we’ve bought before,’’ he said.

“He’s rated in the top three stayers in Europe.”

Trained in Ireland by Jessica Harrington, Torcedor ran third to Stradivarius in the 4000m Gold Cup at Royal Ascot in June and second to that horse in the 3200m Goodwood Cup last month.

Australian Bloodstock has transferred the dual Group 3 winner to German trainer Andreas Wohler, who prepared Protectionist.

Torcedor, a six-year-old gelding by Fastnet Rock, has won six of his 19 starts.

“Andreas is over the moon,’’ Murrell said.

“He said the horse had arrived at his stables on the weekend. It took 30 hours to get from Ireland to Germany and he can’t believe how well he handled it.’’

Murrell said the plan was for Torcedor to tackle the Melbourne Cup at his first Australian start but he might have another run in Europe.

Torcedor is a free-going galloper who makes his own luck out in front. Australian Bloodstock also has Cup hopes for Big Duke, Red Cardinal and Ormito.

HEY DOC PLEASES McEVOY
HEY Doc has returned to the scene of one of his biggest triumphs with a gallop at Moonee Valley to tune up for Saturday’s return in the 1000m Carlyon Stakes.

The dual Group 1 winner had a solo hitout on Monday.

Hey Doc is unbeaten in three starts at Moonee Valley, highlighted by his Group 1 Manikato success last spring.

A defence of that title in October is his chief spring objective, and trainer Tony McEvoy said the five-year-old was on target after his autumn was aborted after one start because of an injury to his pectoral muscles.

Hey Doc galloped with stablemate Manuel between races at Sandown last Wednesday, but McEvoy was happier with Monday’s effort under regular jockey Luke Currie.

“He has come on a lot since his gallop at Sandown last week,” McEvoy said.

“He did it kind of working on his own today and he pulled up really well.

“He breezed around pretty strongly, which I wanted him to do, and he had a nice healthy blow but recovered quickly. He’s given Luke all the right vibes.”

Hey Doc headlines 22 Carlyon nominations, including Mr Sneaky, Faatinah, Dothraki and Bons Away.