Latest News

By Ray Hickson

Trainer Nathan Doyle has been “treading water” waiting for a dry track to give Salisano the chance to back up an impressive first-up win at Randwick on Saturday.

Trainer Nathan Doyle (Pic: Steve Hart).

An aversion to wet ground caused Doyle to abandon the mare’s autumn and winter preparation in May after just three runs and the patience was rewarded when she led all the way to win at Canterbury a month ago.

Doyle suspects on a dry track that Salisano could work her way through to Listed company and as she clashes with Bonita Queen in the Ranvet Handicap (1200m) it will give him a good guide to those ambitions.

“It was a bit of a relief to actually see her come out and do it,’’ he said.

“She’s always shown us nice ability, that she could be borderline stakes class so hopefully she can go on with it.

“She has to lump a big weight and she has to go around with the gap between runs, but we can’t keep treading water at home.

“She was plagued by wet tracks last preparation and it’s quite obvious she doesn’t handle them. Especially by the way she returned on firmer footing, that’s the only reason she went out for a break.”

Salisano, $7 with TAB on Thursday, has the inside barrier and Doyle said that’s a nice advantage for Tommy Berry to have given Bonita Queen, who is a noted front-runner, has a wide gate to offset to take up the running.

Doyle said he wouldn’t like to get into a speed battle, especially with 60.5kg, and is confident Salisano can cope if relegated to doing some stalking.

“She’s pretty versatile, she’s won with a sit before,’’ he said.

“I think she prefers to be up there on the bunny, from barrier one we’ll roll forward and leave it up to Tommy a bit from there.

“Bonita Queen obviously goes quick but we will definitely be trying to hold our spot.”

Stablemate Super Bright also takes her place alongside Salisano and Doyle said she’s an honest horse who will need some luck from the wide gate but she was only 1-1/2 lengths from Salisano two starts ago.

The Provincial-Midway Championships series is in Doyle’s mind for Silvanito who resumes from a minor setback in the 2025 Stud And Stable Staff Awards Handicap (1200m).

The gelding, who has run five seconds from eight starts for the Newcastle trainer, hasn’t raced since finishing midfield behind Disneck back on December 14.

Silvanito has had 18 starts so Doyle only has this run and one more up his sleeve before he needs to contest one of the qualifying races for the Provincial-Midway Championships.

“He had a little infection in a fetlock that took time to get over. He’s been constantly working but he’s a good gap between runs,’’ he said.

“We might just have to ride him quiet and let him hit the line strongly.

Salisano wins at Canterbury on December 20

“He’s on that borderline where we can’t have many more runs before we can have a crack at a Provincial-Midway Championships qualifier but he’s a genuine Saturday city horse which you need, and probably a little bit more, to win a qualifier.”

Nathan Doyle on Irish Kisses (race 2): “His pattern is to roll forward so hopefully he can overcome that gate. He was genuine last start, he meets the winner in the same race again but it goes from a senior jockey to an apprentice. He deserves his opportunity there and I’m sure he’ll run well.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s Randwick meeting