Undefeated colt Private Harry is set to make his Group 1 debut in the Group 1 Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
Trainer Nathan Doyle has had his sights set on the race for Private Harry since his last-start victory in the Magic Millions Sunlight 3YO Plate (1100m) at the Sunshine Coast in early January.
Doyle reported that the colt has had a trouble-free preparation, which included two barrier trial wins at Rosehill and on his home track at Newcastle.
“He didn’t have long off, just ten days,” said Doyle, who is aiming for his first Group 1 win as a trainer.
“He held a little bit of residual fitness, so he’ll be going to the race more forward than a horse that’s normally first-up.
“You can’t go in underdone, you’ve got to be primed and ready to go.
“At the same time, a few of them will be first-up, and the second favourite [Briasa] is likely to be first-up as well.
“So he’s probably meeting them on level pegs a bit there, and we’re really happy with the horse.”
In the Magic Millions Sunlight, Private Harry convincingly defeated Lady Of Camelot and Arabian Summer.
Doyle added, “I think the best thing is the form lines have held up around him, they’ve been quite strong out of that Sunlight as well. Even when you go back to Hawkesbury, he won by seven lengths, and the horse who ran second that day has run second in a Group 2.”
Doyle believes The Galaxy is the right race for Private Harry’s first Group 1 test.
“You’re not to know until you really step them up. You don’t see how fast they can go at trackwork, but what we see from him, he’s matured.”
Private Harry is the $2.80 favourite with horse racing betting sites for The Galaxy.
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