3 minute read
There were probably easier options for lightly raced three-year-old Boston Rocks but trainer Nathan Doyle says he’s landed in the perfect race to test his Gosford Guineas credentials at Randwick on Saturday.
The gelding returns from a break in the TAB Handicap (1100m) having won his first two starts for Nathan Doyle prior to a second as favourite to stablemate Cheerful Legend back in August.
With 54kg on his back Doyle said Boston Rocks will get his chance to earn a shot at Listed grade after Christmas.
"He's got to get the job done on Saturday or show us he warrants going there,'' Doyle said.
"He just got in so well at the weights in this race. It's worked out well, no weight, good gate, Tim Clark, everything maps well.
"The 1100m is a nice kick off point for him with no weight on his back."
The Listed $200,000 Gosford Guineas (1200m) for three-year-olds is run on December 28.
Doyle is very forgiving of Boston Rocks' defeat at the end of last preparation given the way the Kensington track played on the day but did forecast prior to that race he'd be heading for a break regardless of the result.
"It probably didn't suit him the way they got out to the outside fence on the Kenso that day,'' he said.
"He probably just got lost out there being a young horse and a bit raw."
He's confident it was the right move looking at how the gelding, $3.10 with TAB on Thursday, has returned and on the evidence of his comfortable trial win on his home track at the end of November.
"He trialled super at Newcastle, he ran the quickest time of the day under no pressure,'' he said.
"I think there's a lot more left to come with him but he was always going to be a lot better after that first preparation with us under his belt and we feel he's come on nicely."
Cheerful Legend, the horse who downed Boston Rocks at the end of winter, has a wide gate to contend with in the Precise Air Handicap (1400m) and Doyle said he'll need his share of luck but he comes into the race with a solid second on pace at Canterbury three weeks ago.
The Newcastle trainer brings six horses to a city meeting for the first time and can make a solid case for most of them including Cosmic Field who he feels is well placed in the Midway Handicap (1600m).
The four-year-old finished on the placegetters' heels in the Midway on Hunter Day at Newcastle, won by the in-form Toesonthenose, after settling last but Doyle can see a different scenario with blinkers on and barrier one.
"He got back a bit too far in a race that wasn't run to suit with the tempo up front but he was still okay to the line,'' he said.
"He's probably always needed blinkers but we've waited for the right time and he's responded well at home in the shades.
"He'll get covered up nice early and it's the right race."
Nathan Doyle on Hide Your Heart (race 3): "At the 300m mark she was four lengths off the second last horse and lost contact with the field, and I was sending her to the paddock, but she was probably strongest through the line. It's basically a Benchmark 72 and if they run along at a nice tempo she won't have to make up too much ground."
On Xpresso (race 9): "He's trialled up okay, probably needed that trial. The 1000m is the right kick off point and barrier one helps. He will probably benefit from the run but he's forward enough to run well."
On Dalaalaat (race 10): "He's consistent as ever, he will bob up one day in that grade. He's a big horse and a lot of the chances have to carry similar weights so that helps. He always races best on the fresh side and I'm happy heading down there."
