Newcastle trainer Nathan Doyle reckons “that will take a while to sink in.”
Now a group 1-winning trainer, claiming a $1 million race at Rosehill, celebrating on Golden Slipper Day. All thanks to an unbeaten colt called Private Harry. “That’s going to take a while to sink in,” Doyle told Sky Racing after Saturday’s triumph in the Galaxy (1100 metres).
“It’s all I’ve ever dreamed of, training racehorses and to be here and to win a group 1. “I still remember the picture I drew my uncle when I was eight years old … I just loved horses and moments like these are unbeatable.”
Doyle has only known success with Private Harry since his debut at home in Newcastle less than six months ago. Wins number two and three followed before Christmas at Hawkesbury and Rosehill respectively. Then a new $3 million slot race on the Sunshine Coast on January 4 skyrocketed Private Harry into another stratosphere.
Two trials over the last two months led to this moment, a step up in class on a big occasion. Private Harry delivered with an impressive performance, featuring a head-to-head battle down the straight against inside runner Front Page. The pre-race favourite eventually prevailed by 0.79 lengths and paid $3.90 on the TAB tote. Private Harry’s jockey Ashley Morgan simply described it as “amazing” to Racing NSW media.
Kris Lees-trained Rivellino finished fourth in the $5 million Golden Slipper (1200m), which was taken out by Marhoona.
“Great run. He needs to jump better than that. After that he gave me the most superb ride. With a bit more luck I think he could have been right in the finish,” Rivellino jockey Hugh Bowman told Racing NSW.
Newcastle trainer Rebecca Dunn prepared the opening winner, Inferencia paying $21 in a benchmark 72 Midway Handicap (1500m). Champion jockey James McDonald piloted saluted three times in a row during the middle of the metropolitan card – Autumn Glow in a listed 1200m, superstar Via Sistina in the group 1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) and Broadsiding in the group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m). Gringotts edged out Fangirl by 0.02 lengths in the group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m).
Elsewhere and Lees-charge Imposant won a Provincial-Midway Championships qualifier at Kembla Grange on Saturday, booking a spot in the $1 million final at Randwick on April 12.
Scone training duo Paul Messara and Leah Gavranich struck success at home earlier on Friday with Know Thyself winning a wildcard and progressing to the Country Championships decider at Randwick on April 5.
Dylan Gibbons back for midweek rides on Beaumont Track
Gary Harley reports: Rachel King only has one mount at Newcastle Jockey Club’s race meeting on the Beaumont Track on Monday and a recent barrier trial indicates the trip up the M1 won’t be in vain.
King has been booked for mare Love And Light, trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrain Bott, in a maiden plate (1150 metres).
A lightly raced four-year-old, Love And Light’s stop-start career has produced three placings from five runs. In July 2023 the mare had two starts for two seconds at Wyong and Warwick Farm. Her second prep resulted in the one start at Warwick Farm. The daughter of Capitalist has trialled twice recently and at Randwick on March 10, with King aboard, she won a trial by a big space under little pressure. She has genuine speed.
Armidale trainer Stirling Osland doesn’t venture to Newcastle very often, but he will travel down with Suit Day, a consistent stayer which runs in the opening benchmark 58 handicap (2100m). Suit Day clashed with in-form stablemate, So You Are at Scone on March 4 and, after looming at the top of the straight, was beaten 1.24 lengths. So You Are was beaten a head at Wyong’s metropolitan meeting on Wednesday. Suit Day has a win and three placings from his past five starts and jockey Ashley Morgan has the mount for the first time.
Former star Newcastle apprentice Dylan Gibbons returns to race riding after four-and-a-half months off following surgery. Gibbons has five starts at Monday’s meeting with dual acceptor Naughty Nurse one of his better mounts. Newcastle trainer Kris Lees has accepted with the filly in the final two events – a class 1 handicap (1200m) and benchmark 58 handicap (1300m). The three-year-old went to the paddock after a maiden win at Port Macquarie in October. She hasn’t raced since but had two recent barrier trials, winning the last at Scone.
Upper Hunter trainer Scott Singleton and his talented apprentice Mitch Stapleford, both enjoying successful seasons with 24 and 33 winners respectively, combine with in-form Kimberley Moon in a benchmark 66 handicap (1150m). The mare has won three of her past five starts, including a Beaumont track victory on February 10. She was hampered early when beaten four lengths at Canterbury on February 21. The Scone pair also team up with Spenzalot in a maiden handicap (1350m). The three-year-old was narrowly beaten on debut at Tamworth on March 9 and had been trialing well prior to that run.
View the original story published on Private Harry and other local racing news in the Newcastle Herald.
