NATHAN Doyle has trained 271 winners in a relatively brief career to date, but never had a runner at racing’s elite level. But the Newcastle trainer, who has begun the new season in rousing style with 11 winners, is poised for his maiden Group 1 representative at Royal Randwick on Saturday. Doyle nominated his promising three-year-old filly Harlem Queen for races in both Sydney and Melbourne this weekend, but she is not heading south. Harlem Queen was entered for the $300,000 Group 2 Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m) against her own sex at Flemington on Saturday, and the $750,000 Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m) and $250,000 Listed Dulcify Stakes (1600m) at Randwick. All three races are for three-year-olds, but the Flight against her own sex at set weights is her target. Harlem Queen has raced only four times, and is unbeaten from two starts (at Newcastle and Kembla Grange) this preparation.
“The Flight Stakes has always been the plan,” Doyle’s racing manager David Dyson said on Monday. “Sam Clipperton rode Harlem Queen in her latest win over 1400m at Kembla Grange on September 14, and will be on her again. “It’s not going to be an easy task at set weights against the likes of unbeaten filly Autumn Glow, but you never know. “Harlem Queen deserves her chance at a Group 1, particularly against her own age and sex.” A $180,000 purchase for Calibre Racing at the 2023 Magic Millions yearling sale at the Gold Coast, Harlem Queen is a daughter of the lightly-raced Brutal, who retired with five wins from his 10 starts. One of those victories was over the Flight Stakes course at Randwick in the 2019 Group 1 Doncaster Mile. Harlem Queen’s dam, the Fastnet Rock mare Harlem River, raced only six times and won the Listed Tattersalls 2YO Stakes at the Gold Coast in 2015 at her only attempt at 1400m. Prior to final acceptances and the barrier draw on Tuesday, Harlem Queen was a $26 chance with TAB.com.au. Autumn Glow, not surprisingly, was a dominant $1.70 favorite. Doyle also prepares Harlem Queen’s older half-brother Kipsbay (by Capitalist), with whom he has won three races, including two in town at Rosehill Gardens and Eagle Farm. Doyle also will debut his two-year-old Hidden Motive in the Group 3 Breeders’ Plate (1000m) for colts and geldings at Randwick. “Dylan Gibbons rode Hidden Motive in his recent trial on the Kensington track, and has the Breeders’ Plate mount,” Dyson said. A $120,000 purchase at the Magic Millions yearling sale at the Gold Coast earlier this year, Hidden Motive has a Group 1 pedigree. His sire Capitalist won the Breeders’ Plate in 2015 on his way to snaring the Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill the following year, and his dam, seven-times winner Secret Agenda, took the Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville against her own sex in 2017. Hidden Motive showed pace in his 850m Kensington trial on September 23 and was caught only in the closing stages by the Ole Kirk youngster King Kirk. Twelve “babies” had been entered for the Breeders’ Plate on Monday, leaving Australian Turf Club officials no option but to extend the deadline until 11am on Tuesday.
Story John Curtis, October 1, 2024