3 minute read
Electric Girl and Strawb both tackle Group 3 at Scone on Friday
Nathan Doyle will launch a two-pronged attack on the Dark Jewel Classic (Gr 3, 1400m) at Scone on Friday, with the trainers set to saddle Electric Girl (Declaration Of War) and Strawb (Fastnet Rock) in the Group 3.
Strawb has had her well documented troubles throughout her career but got her career back on track, when she landed a race over 1200 metres at Warwick Farm on April 28.
"She had had enough on the line, but she probably did a better job than it looked," Doyle said.
"It was against the pattern of the day, it was playing pretty on speed and fast, and she got back fourth last and was able to overcome that.
"She's taken natural improvement from first-up to second-up and the 1400m looks to suit. It's a lot tougher task obviously, but if she's anywhere near her best I think she'll be right in the finish.
"I don't think she really come up last preparation.
"Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but after she had that mishap in the gates with her first-up run last preparation, we probably should've just tipped her out and started again.
"I think her runs the rest of that preparation never really showed what she's capable of, but it was good to see her get the win first-up."
Meanwhile, Electric Girl was transferred into Doyle's care at the beginning of her preparation.
The four-year-old has been close in all of her starts this preparation but is yet to break through for a victory, with her last win coming in March last year.
Doyle says the mare could've played a role in the finish last start had she got some luck.
"It wasn't a pretty watch, watching the replay. She probably got stopped in her tracks on a couple of occasions and by the time she got out first and second were off and gone," Doyle said.
"I'm not saying she would have beaten the winner or anything, but it would've made it interesting if she was right in the finish if she did get a bit of luck.
"We're hoping to be a bit more positive I'd say at Scone. She sort of knuckled coming out of the gates, which put us back a bit in the final.
"If she can step well, we're happy to be in the first three or four."
