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By Ray Hickson

Trainer Nathan Doyle dipped his toe in the Group 1 water last spring with his first runner at the top level and now he’s had a taste of it he’s hoping unbeaten colt Private Harry can make a splash at Rosehill on Saturday.

Trainer Nathan Doyle (Pic: Trackside).

It’s something every trainer aspires to but the 36-year-old says as excited as he is to see what the three-year-old can do in the Group 1 $1m Kia Ora Galaxy (1100m) he’s kept focus on the goal he set after Private Harry made it four from four back in January.

“That’s what you train horses for, to get these horses, so we have to take it in our stride and change nothing,’’ Doyle said.

“He’s done nothing wrong to date. This is his biggest step taking on the older horses but he deserves his opportunity.

“He’s done it all on his first racing prep, that’s the exciting part.

“He’s started to come back to us and relax and he’s got better throughout the preparation so I think the best is yet to come with him, he’s still untapped and hopefully we see the best of him on Saturday.”

Unlike his first Group 1 runner Harlem Queen, who ran second to Lady Shenandoah in the Flight Stakes at $7.50, Private Harry has been Galaxy favourite for some time and consolidated that standing, at $3.20 with TAB on Thursday, after drawing ideally.

Doyle has given him two barrier trials, he downed Sunshine In Paris in the first and then accounted for Harlem Queen where it was noticeable how much ground the filly pulled back on him late.

But take no notice says the trainer.

“He wasn’t under pressure, she was asked for a bit of a squeeze,’’ he said.

“There was a lot more left in the tank if he was ever asked to extend. A trial is a trial, his best asset is race speed when he can highball out in front and quicken off it.

“He’s so fast out of the machine, he’s a length in front after they go 20m so he puts himself there.

“I was still quite pleased with the way he trialled and he’ll be fit and ready to go."

It’s been quite a rise for a colt who could stamp himself as a future star this weekend. And if he does it’ll be a huge Group 1 moment for his jockey Ash Morgan as well.

Private Harry won a 900m maiden on his home track back in early November, two months later he beat Golden Slipper winner Lady Of Camelot by 2-1/2 lengths in the Magic Millions Sunlight (1100m) on the Sunshine Coast.

Of course that filly has since recorded two Group 1 placings behind Lady Shenandoah.

“There’s strong formlines. The form out of the Sunlight is unreal, it’s not like he’s been beating up lesser competition,’’ he said.

“He didn’t have a long break so he’s very forward in condition, which you have to be going into a Group 1, so I’m very happy where he sits.

“His gallop on Tuesday was perfect, I was happy with the way he pulled up and recovered. It’s been a seamless preparation.”

Doyle elected to split stablemates Wooloowin and Overriding who both accepted in the Group 3 $250,000 TAB Birthday Card Stakes (1200m).

The former will head to Rosehill while the latter tackles the Provincial-Midway Championships Qualifier at Newcastle on Thursday.

Private Harry wins a Newcastle trial on March 5

Wooloowin hasn’t raced since scoring at the Sunshine Coast on the same program as Private Harry.

“She’s a mare and if she can get a bit of black type on her page, out of a stakeswinner as well, I suppose it would be invaluable for her career,’’ he said.

“She’s going terrific the horse, she’s on an upward spiral, she’s only lightly raced as a four-year-old and I think we’ve got her in great form.”

All the fields, form and replays for Golden Slipper day at Rosehill