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By John Curtis

Newcastle trainer Nathan Doyle has taken a sensible path with exciting prospect Private Harry ($1.70 TAB favourite) who lines up at Hawkesbury on Thursday.

Doyle could have rushed the three-year-old straight to town for his second start at Canterbury Park today after an impressive debut performance at home on November 2, but opted to stay at the provincials.

“It might seem rather strange to bypass a race where your horse has drawn the rails (in the Benchmark 68 Handicap, 1100m), but Private Harry doesn’t have early speed and the rail is out three metres at Canterbury,” Doyle’s racing manager David Dyson explained.

Prince Harry (Ashley Morgan) lands the cash at Newcastle. Image by Bradley Photographers

“Nathan’s thinking is that the colt is better placed at Hawkesbury, where he has drawn wider out at seven in the Clarendon Tavern Benchmark 64 Handicap over the same distance.

“He is a big strong animal and more comfortable when he has room to gallop.

“Private Harry has taken time to get to the races. He took five trials (and won four of them) over different preparations, but we were pretty confident at his debut after two excellent lead-up trials at Muswellbrook and Newcastle in October.

“He showed a good turn of foot to race away from his rivals in the Super Maiden (900m) at Newcastle on November 2, and has since trained on well.

“Going to 1100m will be no problem at all; in fact it suits him even better.”

Ash Morgan rode Private Harry in that victory, and partners him again at Hawkesbury.

A $115,000 purchase at last year’s Inglis Classic yearling sale, the colt is the fourth foal of the Congrats mare Happy Pilgrim, who won three races in country NSW.

The Doyle stable is in great form this season, scoring with three of the last four starters. Another three-year-old debutante Churchill’s Choice ($9) was the latest at Scone yesterday, being his 20th winner (and career 280th).

Doyle also has a good record at Hawkesbury with 18 wins (and a strike rate of nearly 19%) from 97 runners, 24 of which have been placed.

He is chasing a repeat of his Newcastle double on November 2, with Private Harry being accompanied by Irish Bliss ($4.20), who takes on the XXXX Gold Conditional Benchmark 68 Handicap (1400m).

Lee Magorrian rode the son of Redwood in his first-up success in a Provincial Class 1 Handicap (1300m), and sticks with the four-year-old.

“Irish Bliss’ Newcastle win wasn’t altogether unexpected, but he exceeded our expectations all the same,” Dyson said. “He has come on enormously since that race, and there’s no reason why he can’t carry on with the job.

“Irish Bliss is very genuine, winning twice and being placed four times from only eight starts. As he did at Newcastle, he’ll roll forward again and make his own luck.”

Hawkesbury trainer Mick Attard, seeking a season breakthrough, has decided on a gear change for Highland Eightgee ($6) in the Christmas Racedays at HRC 4YO & Up Maiden Plate (1500m).

Attard for the first time is taking a tongue tie off the five-year-old, who again will be ridden by apprentice Olivia Chambers. Her 3kg claim lessens the gelding’s weight to 56kg, 1kg below the limit.

Chambers rode Highland Eightgee at his first two starts this campaign, for a first-up second in a Kembla Grange Midway Maiden Plate (1200m) on October 12 before finishing fifth to Mahogany Girl in a 4YO & Up Maiden Handicap (1300m) on October 24.

The rail is 3m out from the 1100m to 450m, and in the TRUE position for the remainder of the circuit. Course manager Kyle Cassim today posted a Soft 5 rating, with a penetrometer reading of 5.35.

No rainfall has been received in the previous 24 hours, but 24mm in the past week, as a result only 4mm of irrigation has been put on the track in the latter period, but nothing in the previous 24 hours. The eight-race program begins at 1.15pm.

View the final fields with full form & race replays for Hawkesbury here