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By Ray Hickson

Unbeaten mare Norwegian Bliss has been asked to tread water through the carnival by trainer Nathan Doyle but it’s time to get moving at Hawkesbury on Wednesday with her major targets looming.

It’s noticeable that the four-year-old, who made it four from four in her first preparation winning at The Hunter meeting on November 13, trialled back on February 10 and now appears at the races two months later.

Doyle said he’s been patient, partially due to the heavy tracks, knowing the Group 3 Hawkesbury Crown (1300m) on April 30 and Group 3 Dark Jewel Classic (1400m) at Scone two weeks later are the races she’s been set for.

“It might look like she’s only had one trial but she had a jump out on the course proper the same day Coolangatta jumped out (before the Slipper),’’ Doyle said.

“She’s had a fair but of work at home, she’s improved out of sight and we’ve been waiting for the right race. There was no rush to get her there.

“There was no need to throw her in the deep end so we’re just happy to wait with her. We’ve dodged a lot of the wet tracks and I didn’t want to give her a gut buster first-up.”

Norwegian Bliss will face a wet track in the Blakes Marine Handicap (1100m) but Doyle said she’s in the right class, even though she carries 60kg and concedes between 2.5kg and 6kg to her rivals, to be resuming in testing ground.

Norwegian Bliss wins at Newcastle on November 13

James McDonald has his first ride on the mare, $2.40 favourite with TAB on Tuesday, at Hawkesbury.

“She’s a big imposing mare so I don’t think 60kg will worry her and we wanted James to have a sit on her before those (Group) races,’’ he said.

“She’s going to have improvement up her sleeve but she hasn’t reached her level yet by any means. She could come out there and win, but I hope she runs a nice race as 1300m second-up is the main goal.

“You’d think in a Benchmark 72 she would run a bit of a race. They could be a bit nippy for her early on but as long as she’s strong late that ticks the box for us.”

Doyle will make a race morning decision on whether stablemate Beholder attempts a hat-trick in the Jeff Pendlebury Handicap (1300m) wary that while he was a last start heavy 10 track winner he’s not comfortable in that sort of ground.

The gelding broke his maiden status at Newcastle in February then reappeared at Scone a month later and Doyle wants to keep his confidence up.

“He’s done nothing but improve. He probably lacked a bit of confidence when he first arrived but we’ve placed him right from good gates to let him grow in confidence,’’ he said.

“Willie (Pike) jumped off the other day and said he didn’t handle the track at all but got the job done.”

All the fields, form and replays for Wednesday's Hawkesbury meeting