Newcastle trainer Nathan Doyle will saddle up two short priced favourites at Tuesday’s Newcastle race meeting.
The Hunter Valley boy has enjoyed a run of success since acquiring stables at Newcastle late last year and is set to add to the 17 winners he has trained in the current season. Doyle’s two runners on Tuesday are Dreaming Of Gold in the 1300 metre Maiden Plate and Pride of Adelaide in the 1600 metre Class 2 Handicap. Dreaming Of Gold is a $1.45 chance as she attempts to end a frustrating run of second placings. The mare has been runner up in all six starts to date and the furthest she has been beaten is 1.16 lengths.
Christian Reith rides her for the second time after being aboard when the mare was beaten just over half a length at Muswellbrook on March 27. Pride Of Adelaide has had five starts for two wins and two seconds and he is a $2.15 chance in the 1600 metre Class 2 Handicap. His only unplaced run was in the Group 2 Tulloch Stakes at Rosehill on March 28. The three-year-old as is his custom, led clearly but he overraced and pulled himself into the ground.
Pride Of Adelaide has significate gear changes with the tongue tie coming off and the cross over nose band going on. Doyle is confident that both horses can bounce back on their home track. “I have been saying for most of Dreaming Of Gold six starts that this is her race to win. Horses can develop a habit if they are running second after second. I believe she is better off chasing and she has hit the front too early in her past three starts. Dreaming Of Gold is well weighted under the set weight conditions with 57 kgs. She carried 59.5 and 58.5 in her past two starts. She certainly hasn’t gone backwards since her last run.
I went to the Group 2 Tulloch with Pride Of Adelaide last start and he led as he normally does. However, he locked his jaw and wanted to overrace, and when they do that, they cannot breathe properly. That was 2000 metres so he comes back to 1600 and drops a lot in class. Just the same, this is not a bad field and will have to be on his best behaviour. I have taken the tongue tie off him and he will race with a cross over nose band for the first time. Pride of Adelaide worked with the cross over nose band on Saturday morning and he worked well. We will know his fate after 400 metres, if he settles, I believe he can win but if he doesn’t, he will be his worst enemy,” Doyle said on Sunday.
Newcastle businessman Lee Rowan and his trainer Phillip Atkins will be hoping their three-year-old From The Hip brings his good barrier trial form to race day when he runs in the 900 metre Provincial and Country Maiden. The gelding has won his past two barrier trials at Wyong and on the Beaumont track. From The Hip has good speed and his jockey Louise Day has ridden him in all three starts and two recent barrier trials.