Nathan Doyle’s Newcastle who’s stable is off to a good start in the first three months of the season with 14 winners, commences the busiest and most exciting five days of his six-year career at the Newcastle Jockey Clubs race meeting on Saturday. Doyle has six of his team racing at Newcastle, Midnight Opal heads to Rosehill on Saturday, Overriding will run in the Big Dance at Randwick on Tuesday while the stables emerging Group 1 placegetter Harlem Queen heads to Melbourne at the weekend to run in the Group 1 VRC Oaks on Thursday.
At Newcastle on Saturday Doyle’s close friend Ash Morgan will ride five of the stable’s starters. Private Harry (race 1), Aroha Stone (race 3), Aces In Bloom (race 4), Tender Streak (race 7) and Dunaloce (race 8). Private Harry a 3-year-old son of Godolphin’s successful Irish born sire Harry Angel has had a rap on him for some time and he debuts in the 900 metre First National Super Maiden Plate, and he will be at short odds. The colt was an easy winner of barrier trials at Gosford and Newcastle’s Beaumont track in January and March. During October Private Harry impressively won trials at Muswellbrook and Newcastle. In the last trial at Newcastle, he showed blistering speed and cruised home to win by 4.64 lengths. He has a positive barrier.
The Kiwi bred filly Aroha Stone contests the 1300 metre Huxley Hill Maiden Handicap. The 4-year-old was well beaten on debut when under double figures in the Listed Woodlands during the Scone Cup Carnival in May. She had no luck first up at Hawkesbury on October 24 when trapped three wide with no cover and eventually finishing fourth. Look for a big improvement second up.
Doyle has two gallopers in the 1300-meter Elders Insurance Class 1 Handicap, and both have ultra consistent form. Morgan’s mount Aces In Bloom has been placed in her past three starts at Newcastle (2) and Scone. The blinkers go on and from barrier one she should settle midfield on the rail.
Lee Magorrian rides stablemate Irish Bliss in the same race. In his five starts before a spell the gelding had a win and three placings. He is first up after bolting in with a recent Newcastle barrier trial. Doyle’s other two starters Tender Streak in the Maitland Rugby Cup Conditional Benchmark 68 Handicap (1500m) and Dunaloce in the 1600 metre Hunt Hospitality Class 1 Handicap both have each way chances.
Doyles Racing stable manager David Dyson was asked for a comment on their runners. “Private Harry is our best, Irish Bliss and Aroha Stone will be hard to beat and Aces In Bloom can run well with blinkers on”.
Chris Wallers Zoustar filly Sister Daae resumes from a spell in the 1300-meter Huxley Hill Maiden Handicap and the booking of Aaron Bullock is significant. The 3-year-old was only beaten three lengths in her only start at Warwick Farm in June and she has trialled twice recently.
The speedy Dreamdeel runner up in the Jungle Juice Cup two weeks back is the one to beat in the 1500 metre Maitland Rugby Cup Conditional Benchmark 68 Handicap. The gelding only went down by .67 of a length in the Jungle Juice Cup and on this track, he has had a win and four seconds. Olivia Chambers 3-kilogram claim reduces his impost to 55.5 kilograms.